“We have witnessed drought before, lost animals and crops, however, unlike other periods, we usually had enough livestock and crops to sustain ourselves until the rainy season. Now the rains have failed for the fourth time and we are not sure if the fifth rainy season will come,” shares Habey Maanur Mohamud, a 60-year-old mother of two children, who has recently been displaced as a result of the prolonged drought.
Now living in Dhurshenbelli Camp, Habey lost everything as a pastoralist and had no choice but to flee to Hudur in south west Somalia for a better life. “For a moment, try to imagine a situation where you lose all your livestock, your only source of livelihood and sustenance for your family. In addition, we had to travel for long distances, close to a week to a destination where we were not even sure we would get any support or relief. That is what I have been through but I thank God we are all still alive to tell the story,” says Habey.
Pastoralist communities in Somaliland have been devastated by drought. (Photo Credit: Volunteers for Agricultural Development and Caritas Somalia)
The consecutive failed rainy seasons have destroyed homes, crops and infrastructure in the region of Hudur. Without adequate access to food or water, Somalia is on the brink of famine. Widespread hunger and malnutrition especially affects those on the move in search of better livelihoods and access to basic necessities, including shelter.
“As you may already be aware, the drought have caused significant destruction to our homes, crops, and infrastructure in the region. The situation is dire, and the need for emergency relief efforts is urgent,” says Habey.
Through the assistance of Caritas Somalia and Volunteers for Agricultural Development (VAD), Habey and around 3,000 other beneficiaries have received immediate drought relief through the ELIWAP-Project, which included three months of water trucking services, latrines, work tools and cash. In addition, the project has created new job opportunities for those affected by the ongoing drought, and provided additional support for those who are caregivers or have disabilities.
Distribution of the Dignity Kit, food, and NFIs in Somaliland (Photo Credit: VAD and Caritas Somalia)
Habey hopes to spread the word about the project which she believes has had a visible positive impact in her community, but says more still needs to be done for the people of Somalia: “We appreciate the donors that have been supporting us and we do hope that they will continue to be generous.”
To learn more about the work of Caritas Somalia, please visit: https://www.facebook.com/CaritasSomalia