Finding Hope in the Most Challenging Circumstances

In the heart of Mogadishu’s Deynile district, Khadiijo retrieves water from a newly installed tap in her home, a vivid symbol of hope and transformation.

For Khadija Dahir Mahmoud and her five children, life has taken a turn for the better. They are now enjoying access to free, clean water and their first toilets at the Warcaasho internal displacement camp. This positive change is made possible by the dedicated efforts of a Somali organization, demonstrating how focused initiative can spark meaningful change.

Since January, a total of 1,100 households have benefitted from essential services provided by Nomadic Assistance for Peace and Development (NAPAD). The installation of free water connections, construction of latrines, and solar lighting across ten IDP camps have brought significant relief to families previously enduring severe water shortages. Many of these families were uprooted from their homes in Lower and Middle Shabelle due to conflict and instability.

At 60 years old, Khadija reflects on her past struggles with poignant clarity. “We had nowhere to relieve ourselves, no toilets at all. We used to go far away and hide under trees,” she recounts, her voice a mixture of frustration and relief. “In that desperate state, this organization came, dug latrines, built toilets for us, and provided water.”

Imagine the burden of carrying water for two long kilometers, of relying on the kindness of neighbors for just three liters—a meager supply for a family. Yet now, Khadija notes with a mixture of pride and gratitude, “Now we can wash our clothes, and the solar lights illuminate our hut, finally providing a sense of security.”

She no longer has to endure exhausting treks for water or rely on others. Her family also received jerrycans and hygiene materials, a minor yet critical shift that has improved their daily life.

However, one struggle remains constant: food scarcity. As a single mother, Khadija faces the daily challenge of providing for her family while lacking stable employment opportunities due to her age and unfamiliarity with the city’s demands.

Displaced from her home in Runirgod in December 2024 after conflict devastated her two-hectare maize, bean, and sorghum farm, she and her children grapple with the shadow of hunger. “Our situation is very bad. We are completely poor and have nothing in our hands. There’s nowhere to find work,” she laments.

She recounts how her son, determined to contribute, ventures out to town to shine shoes. Yet even this meager income is fraught with challenges. “Sometimes he comes back empty-handed, telling me stronger boys beat him and scattered his tools. We have latrines, solar lights, and water, but we lack food and jobs to earn an income.”

In the same camp, 70-year-old Anab Hassan Omar has also felt the profound impact of NAPAD’s work. With leg disabilities, she has been provided with a special-needs latrine and solar lights that enhance night safety in her dwelling at Alla Magan camp. “A very good latrine was built for me,” she explains, her eyes reflecting relief. “I am lifted and taken to the latrine. Before, I had no such facility; I sometimes had to use a bucket or a specially crafted chair.”

Despite her circumstances, Anab has had her share of difficulties. Malnourished and diabetic, her diet is dictated by what is available. Living with her blind husband and two sons, she faces continuous adversity. “Our life depends on begging from relatives,” she candidly shares. “Begging is shameful, but sometimes you have to resort to it.”

Displaced from Qoryoley in 2020 after losing her three-hectare vegetable farm to drought and conflict, she now navigates life primarily through phone appeals—a modern twist on an age-old struggle for survival. “If someone finds something for me, it’s brought to me. If not, I just stay without,” Anab admits, a hint of resignation tinged with hope in her voice.

According to NAPAD officer Abdirahim Adan, the project—funded by the Somalia Humanitarian Fund (SHF)—aims to address the pressing needs of new arrivals in the camps. “The camps had extensive needs. Among the changes are clean latrines to reduce diseases, solar lights for increased security, and special latrines for people with disabilities,” he explains.

As the initiative progresses, it has successfully established 53 latrines, eight of which are designed for those with disabilities, as well as 424 solar lights and hygiene kits distributed throughout the camps. This broad effort represents a significant stride toward alleviating some of the most pressing hardships faced by families like Khadija’s and Anab’s.

In the end, as we reflect on their stories, we must ask ourselves: What can we do to continue this ripple of change? How can we contribute to building a future where access to basic necessities is a universal right and not a privilege? These families have shown an incredible resilience, but it’s essential that we remain vigilant in our efforts to support them.

Edited By Ali Musa

Axadle Times International – Monitoring