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Somalia

Radio Ergo Weekly Feedback Report, Issued: 10 Jan 2025

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Brief Analysis

This is the first weekly report to be issued for 2025 based on calls to Radio Ergo’s nationwide audience feedback platform. The platform is open for people anywhere in the country to call in free of charge to raise their voices on their issues of concern.

The majority of calls recorded during the week 1-8 January 2025 were about drought and water shortages, with reports of livestock dying in some areas and many callers asking for aid. The messages expressing distress, many of them from female callers, came notably from Galmudug, Hirshabelle, and northern regions. The following summarises the calls by theme.

Drought and water shortage – in Galmudug, a female caller in Dusamareb recorded three separate messages describing drought conditions and water shortage and appealing for water aid. Another female caller in Dusamareb left a similar message. In Idole, a female caller left messages on two consecutive days saying their goats were dying due to drought and they faced water and food shortages. In Gashan, a female caller said they faced drought conditions and had lost 150 camels so far. A caller in Warder in Ethiopia’s Somali Region, due west of Goldogob in Somalia, also said they were suffering from drought conditions. Several callers in Hiran including in Ferfer and Beletweyne spoke of severe drought and having had poor rainfall. Three callers in Middle Shabelle said they and their livestock were facing drought and water shortage, with one caller in Jowhar appealing for aid. A caller in Golweyne, Lower Shabelle, said the drought and water shortage were severe. A few others in Baidoa, Wajid, Kismayo, and Bardera reported facing water shortages. Among callers in the north, one in Gabiley, west of Hargeisa, said people in the area faced destitution and water shortage. A caller in Beer, Togdher region, said they needed water aid. Several callers in Sanag region including Yufle and Dhahar complained of water scarcity and asked for aid. In Sool region, one caller said they were facing drought and water shortage and their livestock were dying. He said they had been neglected by aid organisations and appealed for assistance. In Bari region, a caller in Qardo said they were facing prolonged drought and water shortage. He wanted his message to be shared with aid organisations.

Aid – a caller in Dusamareb said he was among poor people in the area who were appealing for aid assistance. A caller in Jalalaqsi, Hiran, said they used to get aid money from the Bahnano scheme but it had stopped and they wanted to get it back. A caller in Hiran region identifying as a person living with disability said he needed help and wanted his message shared so that he could get assistance. A caller in Balad, M. Shabelle, said they were registered by a certain aid organisation that promised them aid but they hadn’t received anything. He wanted his message to be shared.

Floods – two callers in Bardera, Gedo region, spoke of the suffering caused by flooding. One said the bridges had been destroyed and people couldn’t cross the river.

Conflict – a caller in Garadag, Sanag region, said they were concerned about intense conflict in the area that had caused many deaths and injuries among local communities.

Livestock – callers from various regions noted different diseases and conditions affecting their livestock including parasites and skin disease, cowpox, CCCP, and foot and mouth. Some described undiagnosed symptoms and wanted advice and treatment.

Agriculture – farmers called for advice from the Radio Ergo weekly farming programme experts on dealing with insects and other crop and vegetable pests. A caller in Sahil said they were new in farming and needed help to improve their output. He asked for advice from the experts on the best practices for their farms. A farmer in Jowhar wanted to know the best pesticides for his vegetables including lettuce, spinach and pepper. A farmer in Dinsor asked how to protect their maize, beans and sesame, which were still being attacked by pests despite spraying them.