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Brief Analysis
As drought continues, calls to Radio Ergo’s independent audience feedback platform in the week 5-12 February 2026 emphasised people’s hardships and struggles across the country, with calls from southern and central regions predominating in terms of numbers. Many of the callers spoke of dead or dying livestock. Many callers appealed for water and food aid. The following summarises the calls by theme.
Education – a female caller in an unspecified location (calling on a Golis phone line) said their children had been out of education for three years. She said they couldn’t afford to pay school fees because of the way the drought had affected them.
IDPs – two females called from Daryel IDP camp (location not stated and there are several camps with the same name in different regions) saying they had lost all their livestock to the drought and were facing food and water shortages, as well as lacking shelter. They appealed to aid organisations to help them. Another caller in Kaharey camp in Dollow, Gedo region, said displaced people there were facing severe drought and hardships and needed aid.
Conflict – a caller in Baidoa said they were already facing drought, water shortage and hardships when fresh conflict (heavy fighting on 4-5 February between a militia and South West State forces) caught civilians up in gunfire and the risks of landmines. He said they needed intervention. Another caller in Dalsan, Galgadud region, wanted the government authorities to intervene to stop conflicts that were causing displacement in the area.
Livestock – among calls to the Radio Vet programme, several livestock owners mentioned abeeb disease (foot and mouth) affecting their goats, while others mentioned cowpox and CCPP. A female caller in Galgadud wanted help in treating their goats with botulism that she said was causing their necks to bend and stiffen, before the animals died.
Agriculture – farmers in various locations especially in central regions called for help in dealing with pests affecting a range of crops including watermelons, tomatoes, maize, and onions.
Drought crisis – in Somaliland, a female caller in Marodi-Jeh said they were appealing for help as their livestock were dying. Several people called from Togdher region, saying they had been impoverished by livestock losses and their surviving animals had diseases including CCPP. Two callers in Sahil said there was severe drought and water shortage. A female caller in Lasanod, Sool, said there were no water wells in their area and they were appealing for help. A caller in Qoyan village, Badhan, Sanag region, said they faced water shortage, the rains had failed, and the people were desperate and had not received any aid.
In Puntland, a caller in Eyl stated that their livestock were dying in the severe drought conditions.
In Mudug region, callers in Badweyne and Galkayo noted the harsh conditions they were facing.
There were many calls from across Galgadud region. For instance, a female caller in Budbud said they needed food and water aid. A caller in Biyo-gadud said most livestock had perished and the remaining ones were weak. He wanted his message shared so that they could get help. A female caller in Gelinsor said they were short of water and food. She said they couldn’t afford the water prices and were appealing for help. Among many callers from Guriel, several said livestock were dying, the land was bare of vegetation, and there were food and water shortages. One caller in Guriel, however, said on 6 February that they had received some rainfall. A caller in Godon village, Dusamareb, said their livestock were at risk. Another in Hananbure said they needed help as the people were in distress because of food and water scarcity. One caller wanted to receive the Weather Forecasts on the radio. (Radio Ergo’s production team has not received the information and analysis from Somali expert sources that we need to share this effectively with listeners).
In Hiran region, a caller in El-Gal said the water wells had dried up and they were facing water shortage.
In Middle Shabelle, there were callers about harsh drought impacts from Adale, Balad, and Raga-elle. A caller in Qalimow said their livestock were dying, they were short of water and food, and needed aid.
In Bay region, several called from Baidoa and Dinsor, including one in Baidoa saying livestock had died and they faced water and food shortage.
A number of listeners called from parts of Gedo region, including Bardera, Dollow, and Beledhawo, describing drought and extreme heat, and prayers for relief or aid. A female caller in Garbaharey appealed for help from the government authorities. Two callers in Lower Juba described severe drought, saying they were praying for rainfall.