Attachments
Brief Analysis
The call this week (5-11 March 2026) to Radio Ergo’s independent audience feedback platform again focused mainly on the impact and intense hardships caused by ongoing drought. A small number of callers in scattered areas across the country reported some rainfall and spoke of anticipated recovery. Many callers appealed for aid, with several questioning distribution of the government-run Bahnano cash aid safety net. Callers on drought issues mentioned decimated livestock herds, food insecurity, and lack of access to water. The calls also included people engaging with Radio Ergo’s thematic programmes on livestock, agriculture, health, environment and climate change, and other topical issues. The following summarises the calls by theme.
Aid – a female caller in Mataban, Hirshabelle state, wanted Ergo to pass on her query to the government, saying that they used to get Bahnano cash aid but hadn’t received anything in the past three years. Another female caller in an unspecified location said she was among people registered to receive Bahnano cash aid two years ago, but whilst some people had received the aid she herself had not. She wanted to find out if they had not listed her phone number or if there was some other issue.
Prices – a caller in Kuntawarey, Lower Shabelle, said that in the past few weeks they had seen a rise in prices including the price of fuel. They wanted aid organisations and government to help lower the prices of essential items.
Weather information – a caller in Galgadud said they were observing white clouds forming above but didn’t know if they were rain clouds. He asked for weather forecast updates to be broadcast. Radio Ergo receives many requests for such information. [Radio Ergo airs the information received from FAO-SWALIM, and would like also to air information and alerts from SoDMA but so far hasn’t received anything despite many requests].
Agriculture – several farmers in different locations called the weekly farming programme seeking advice about control of pest particularly affecting maize and beans.
Livestock – among callers to the radio vet programme with experts, a woman in Sanag wanted help identifying a disease affecting her cows. Several callers described their goats with bloated stomachs and diarrhoea. A caller in Dhagahyale, Hiran, said their goats had abeeb disease [foot and mouth] and needed treatment.
Rainfall – several callers in scattered locations reported rainfall during the week that was helping their recovery. Two called from Sanag, one from Lasanod, and one from Rako-raho in Bari region. A caller from Kagha, near Hargeisa, said the area was now overcrowded, as presumably many pastoralists had moved there following the rain. In the south, two called from Jowhar, three from Bardera, and one from Burhakaba citing recent rainfall.
Drought and Impacts – the bulk of calls this week, as last week, focused on the hardships caused by ongoing drought across the country. A caller in Gabiley said people were short of food and livestock fodder. A female caller in Sanag said that as a pastoralist their way of life was under threat from the drought. A caller locating himself in Northern Somaliland said there was drought and disease in the area and they were appealing to aid organisations to reach the vulnerable people. A caller in El-Midgan, Lasanod, said their water wells had dried up and their livestock were dying. He also appealed for aid. A female caller in Qardo, Bari region, said the drought and water shortage were severe and their livestock were in a dire condition.
Several called from parts of Mudug region, including Budbud, Galkayo, and particularly Harardhere, speaking of acute water shortage and emaciated livestock that were dying off.
The biggest number of calls came from across Galgadud region. Several people called from Abudwak and Adado saying the drought was concerning and they hadn’t received any assistance. Callers in El-dhere, Gelinsor, and Guriel said their livestock were dying. One caller in Guriel said that as a mother she was struggling to find food and water for her family. She said they were praying for rain. A caller in Hurshe added that on top of the drought there were no jobs. Many of these callers said they didn’t have food to break their fasts during this Ramadan period.
Among callers from Hiran, including Arborey and Beletweyne, one said their children were hungry and they didn’t have any food for them. Others said livestock were dying. A woman in Beletweyne said she faced challenges due to the drought and after raising her children with difficulty they had left to join the army.
In Middle Shabelle, a woman in Balad said they were facing drought, water shortage, and destitution. A farmer in the region said the water shortage had affected their farms and they needed aid organisations to help them. A female caller in Lower Shabelle said they couldn’t afford the water trucked to their area, and their children had been forced to drop out of their schools. She asked for help. Several callers in Dollow, Gedo, spoke of drought accompanied by intense heat.
A caller in an unspecified location said their livestock were dying and an outbreak of measles was spreading among the community.