Pastoralists survey their barren land, reflecting a profound loss – a poignant image of their once-thriving livestock grazing the arid landscape.
In the heart of Somalia’s Mudug region, approximately 1,500 families residing in the Ali-Waal area are grappling with devastating hardships. Fragmented pieces of their livelihoods have been eroded by the relentless grip of drought. Over the past three months, most of these families have watched, helplessly, as their once-plentiful herds dwindled due to an unforgiving climate that has offered little to no rain for two and a half years.
Amidst these afflicted pastoralist communities is the family of Abdullahi Mohamed Ali. They have lost a staggering 85 goats. What remains of their livestock is frail, unable to provide milk or meat. After such prolonged drought conditions, this loss translates into severe shortages of food and water.
Abdullahi paints a vivid picture of resilience challenged by desperation: “We have a problem getting food. We used to get it from local shops on debt, but when they saw that most of our animals died, they stopped giving us debt. We don’t have animals to sell and buy food. We only hope for help from God,” he shared with Radio Ergo.
The family now scrambles to survive on just 10 kilos of staples like flour, rice, and sugar, all procured on credit late in February. Their once-reliable water storage has evaporated into harsh reality, nudging them to plead with relatives in distant Galkayo for precious water.
Abdullahi explains the root of their calamity: “The main reason our livestock are dying is the lack of water. We relied on small dams, which have run out. The closest water source is Bitaale, 40 km away, where a barrel of water costs $7, which we can’t afford.”
Their plea for water from tankers has gone unanswered due to an outstanding $250 debt. Abdullahi’s family leans heavily on the generosity of others for meager water donations, barely enough to quench their parched throats.
This crisis of water scarcity has deepened, morphing into a quest for food. Starving children are left vulnerable to diseases, and the camels, once strong workhorses, are now barely able to walk, let alone bear burdens.
Abdullahi, a stalwart of his land, at 40 fears a worsening future without the arrival of aid or much-needed rainfall. His entire existence is intertwined with this soil, and he laments, “These are the worst living conditions we have ever experienced.”
Burhan Hudi echoes Abdullahi’s struggles. His family of nine is ensnared in severe food shortages after losing 150 goats. Deprivation driven by nonexistent pasture, mysterious diseases, and relentless water scarcity looms darkly over their lives.
“The livestock are suffering the most from the drought. They don’t have enough water or food. The lack of pasture makes them weak. Both people and animals are suffering from this drought,” Burhan reflects, his words tinged with sorrow and fatigue.
The Hudi family survives on a single meal a day, a generosity afforded by local people. Yet as the situation worsens, fewer hands are there to help, prompting Burhan to state, “The debts I have are huge. We owe about $5,000. The shops stopped giving us credit. Previously, they gave us food and clothes, but now our animals are dead, and we can’t pay our debts.”
With weary determination, Burhan is contemplating the future. He is considering uprooting his family to a larger town in hopes of a better life, yearning for either providential rain or humanitarian aid to lift their spirits.
Local district leader, Muhayadi Sheikh Abdi, voices the collective despair with a somber acknowledgment of both human and animal suffering under this drought. “There is ongoing hunger affecting people and animals. People have lost their livestock and have nowhere to turn. We expect help from God, but there is a great danger to everyone,” he forewarns.
In this landscape ravished by scarcity, tales of endurance persevere. They serve as a solemn reminder of the delicate balance between man and nature, leaving us to ponder, how long can the voice of hope outlast the echo of despair?
Edited By Ali Musa Axadle Times international – Monitoring.
