Attachments
Brief Analysis
The calls to Radio Ergo’s audience feedback platform this week (30 Jan to 5 Feb 2025) indicated worsening drought conditions being suffered by many communities in many regions. Calls from the northern regions were prominent, with significant numbers also from central regions, Hirshabelle, and parts of South West and Jubbaland. Many callers said the drought was severe and they were desperate. Other callers also spoke of acute food shortages and gaps in aid. There were more women’s voices amongst the feedback this week, with about one third of the calls in this report being from women. Livestock callers raised challenges with diseases affecting their goats, whilst farmers complained of persistent pests destroying their vegetable crops. The following summarises the calls by theme.
Aid – a caller in Durugsi, Togdher, region, said they were concerned about widespread corruption in the distribution of aid and that cash cards were not being shared fairly. A caller in Guriel, Galmudug, said people had been cut off from aid and were suffering from a shortage of water and food. He said they urgently needed help from aid organisations. A caller in Buleburte, Hiran region, said that nutritional supplements for mothers and children were being sold in the area. He added that the people who needed the supplements didn’t get them because they were being sold. A caller in Burhakaba, Bay region, said they were witnessing cases of malnutrition and needed help. Two female callers identifying as IDPs in Beletweyne, Hiran region, said strong winds had destroyed their shelters in their camps and the water in the well had become brackish and undrinkable. Both women appealed for aid and assistance. A female caller in Bal'ad, Middle Shabelle region, said she was a destitute single mother and currently pregnant. She said people there were facing water and food shortages and were appealing for help.
Health – a female caller in Mogadishu said people needed free healthcare in the city because they didn’t have money to get treatment. She said there were aid centres for feeding people but what they needed was free healthcare.
Conflict – a caller in Galgadud said due to the worsening of clan conflict there, people were now under siege and needed help.
Drought & Impact – a caller in Borama, Awdal region of Somaliland, said their livestock were sick and people were facing severe water shortages. They had not had much rainfall and hoped to get more. A female caller in Hargeisa appealed for food aid, saying there was high inflation in the area and people couldn’t afford food. A caller in Burao, Togdher region, said they were suffering from drought, and their livestock were at risk. He added that they needed urgent help. Another in Burao said there was drought and water shortage and they had no equipment to work on their farms. He also spoke of youth unemployment and wanted job opportunities in the area. Also in Togdher, a caller in Dagari said the drought had left their livestock facing water and fodder shortage and they were appealing for help. Another in Gashamo said the severe drought was affecting their livestock and they needed urgent assistance from aid organisations. Among callers in Sanag region, two female callers appealed for aid due to drought and water shortage affecting the people and their livestock. Another caller said their livestock were dying from the drought and diseases. He said he had only 30 animals left and needed help treating their livestock. Another in Haysimo area said the drought had led to acute shortage of water and their goats were also sick. He said people wanted urgent help from aid organisations. A caller in Dagar said severe drought had led to displacement. They faced water shortage, their livestock were vulnerable, and they were appealing for help. Another caller said conflicts in Sanag region had led to food and water shortage, and he appealed for help for vulnerable people. In Puntland, a caller noted that the prices of goats had dropped to $50, and food had become expensive. A caller in Godobjiran, Nugal region, said they were experiencing a drought that had severely affected the pastoralists and their livestock. He said circumstances were dire and they urgently needed help. Two callers from Bari region, including one in Karkar, also asked for aid due to drought and water shortages. In Galgadud region, callers in Adado, Abudwak, and Dusamareb said they were facing drought, with one asking for help and others mentioning their hopes for rainfall. A caller in Las-hordhere said they were concerned about severe drought in the area and needed food and water aid as well as medicines for their livestock. Further south, two female callers in Beletweyne, Hiran, said they were grappling with severe drought and water shortage, with available water turning sour and livestock becoming weak. A female caller in Jowhar, Middle Shabelle, said they were suffering from drought that had led to a water shortage and damaged their harvests. She said they needed urgent help. In Lower Shabelle, a caller in Qoryoley left two messages saying they had been hit by drought and water shortage, their goats were dying and they were appealing for help. In Bay region, a female caller in Baidoa said they faced drought, water shortages, and a lack of food and urgently needed aid intervention. Another in Bakool said they hadn’t received any aid recently and needed support. In Gedo region, a caller in Bardera said they were struggling with severe drought that had completely wiped out their livestock. He said he had reported to an aid organisation, but hadn’t received any assistance. He said they urgently needed support and relief. Another caller not specifying where he was in Gedo said their livestock were dying. In Lower Juba, a caller in Dhobley called twice saying they were managing to get water from the wells so far but noted the drought conditions.
Livestock – among many callers asking for help and advice with livestock diseases, a female caller in Mogadishu said her goats had CCPP disease and were dying. She wanted to know what to do. Another female caller in Dhumodle, Togdher, said they needed help in treating their sick livestock. A caller in Hiran said they had been poisoning wildlife especially foxes but they were still attacking their goats.
Agriculture – among callers to the radio’s farming programme, a female caller in Qura-jome, Bay region, said they didn’t have fertilizer or any of the things they were hearing about on the radio. She wanted to know where they could get these inputs. Many said they were facing problems with pests. A caller in Hawo-Tako in Beledweyne said his tomatoes and peppers had been attacked by pests and after using different pesticides they felt tired. They wanted advice from the agriculture expert. A caller in Mudug wanted assistance as their farms were facing persistent pest invasions, particularly affecting their watermelons and lemons.