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Somalia

Radio Ergo Weekly Feedback Report, Issued: 16 Dec 2024

Attachments

Brief Analysis

Calls this week (5-11 December 2024) to Radio Ergo’s nationwide independent audience feedback platform included concerns about drought and water shortage expressed by callers in Puntland, Galmudug, and Middle Shabelle. At the same time, there were also two callers in Middle Shabelle region who complained of ongoing river floods. Meanwhile, other callers spoke of having rainfall and water and doing quite well in parts of Somaliland, Puntland, Galmudug, Hiran, and Gedo region. A number of callers noted cold weather with strong winds in some northern regions and a few other places. The following summarises the calls by theme.

Floods – a caller in Jowhar, Middle Shabelle, called on 10 December saying that the river was still flooding and people there hadn’t had any help from the government or aid organisations. Another in Middle Shabelle region said they were concerned about river floods in their [unspecified] area and were appealing for help. Meanwhile a caller in Beledweyne said they had recovered from the floods and their crops were now growing well.

Aid diversion – a caller locating himself in an area on the Somali-Ethiopia border said he was responding to Radio Ergo’s awareness messages asking people to report the improper sale of nutritional supplements intended to be given free. He said he had seen people selling Plumpy Nut nutrition sachets and that they were available for sale everywhere.

Health – a callerin Karinley near Bardera in Gedo complained that they lacked health care centres in their area especially for children. Another caller from Hudur, Bakool region, engaging with the radio’s weekly Nutrition Programme, said he had small, malnourished children and wanted to know what they could give them to nourish them.

Services – a caller in Qansahley, Bay region, complained about poor network connectivity in the area and asked Hormuud telecom provider to improve the connection. A female caller in Gidheys, Galgadud, said they were concerned about the lack of proper roads connecting to Adado. She asked the government to build roads for them.

Missing Person – a caller in Baqeyle, Sanag, said they had lost someone by the name of Shamso Jama Muse, who was last seen 20 days ago. He gave his number, asking anyone who found her to contact them. [He did not state the age of the person named].

Drought and water shortage – in Togdher region, a caller said they were doing well although they didn’t have rain and there were strong winds blowing in the area**.** A caller in another unspecified location in Somaliland said there had been strong winds blowing that were affecting their livestock. He added that they had not had rainfall recently, with the last rain falling on 15 August. A few callers in Karkar, Bari region, said they were facing prolonged drought and hadn’t had rainfall recently. One said they faced drought and water shortage and were appealing for help. In Mudug region, a caller in Galkayo said they were facing drought and there were strong winds blowing in the area. Another in Kal'ad said they were doing well although the rainfall had been little and the temperature was becoming very hot. A female caller in Goldogob, Mudug, said they had not got rainfall but were just herding their livestock. There were several callers from Galgadud including Guriel and Adado complaining about drought. A female in Galgadud said they had not had rainfall in recent days and were concerned about drought. In Middle Shabelle, a caller in Hawadley said they were facing drought and there were winds blowing in the area. He added a request to have more weather forecasts, which is a frequent request from Radio Ergo listeners. Another in Middle Shabelle said the rainfall had delayed and their crops had not grown. He added that they were appealing for help.

Climate – in Sanag region, a caller said they were concerned about cold nights affecting them and their livestock. In Togdher, a caller said they were doing well although they hadn’t had any rain and were suffering strong winds. In Bosaso**,** a female caller said they were concerned about cold and winds. Another caller in Bari region also said they were concerned by cold weather and strong winds.

Rain – in the north, a caller in Erigabo, Sanag, said they had got the rainfall and were feeling happy. Among others in Sanag, as caller in Habar-shiro said they had rainfall and they and their livestock were doing well. In Sool, a caller in Higlo said they had rainfall and were doing well. In Bari region, a caller in Mareer said they had rainfall and their water sources had been replenished. Two callers in Garowe said they had received rain during the week. Among several callers from parts of Mudug, a caller in Alemo-Ase announced to people in Mudug and Nugal regions who were facing drought that they should move with their livestock to coastal areas of Dhinowda and Gara'ad that had got rainfall. Two callers in Galkayo said they had heavy rain and were happy to have recovered from a long dry season. In Galgadud, there were three calls from Guriel, and others from Dusamareb and El-dhere saying they had rain. Several called from Hiran region including a female caller in Beledweyne, saying they had rain and were in bliss and people were working on their farms. Another in Hiran said they were doing well and so were their livestock. Three callers in Bardera, Gedo region, said they had rain and were doing well. One female in Banadir said they had received some rainfall, and another caller in Yaqbirweyne, Lower Shabelle region, said they had rainfall and their livestock were getting fodder.

Livestock – a female caller in Sool region said they had been attacked by hyenas and they needed help in protecting their livestock. A caller on a Hormuud line, who didn’t specify his location, said his goats had CCPP disease and the herders had the medicine needed. He wanted an expert on the Radio Vet programme to explain where on the livestock bodies the medicine should be injected and how many doses they have in a day. In Galgadud, a caller in Dawa'ale said their livestock had been hit by Abeeb disease and they needed help to treat their herds.

Agriculture – among callers to Radio Ergo’s weekly farming programme, a caller in Afgoye saying he was a farmer said he noticed that the tops of their sesame plants were withering. He wanted to know what caused this. Another farmer in an unspecified location said their sesame plants had been infested by aphids and they wanted to know how to get rid of them.

Locusts – a caller in Buleburte, Hiran, said their farms had been attacked by locusts and they wanted to know how they could control the locusts.

Environment – this topic continued to attract calls. A female caller in Haji-Alle, Lower Shabelle, expressed concern over people cutting down trees and destroying the environment. A caller in Galgadud wanted experts on the radio to explain the nexus between climate change and strong winds blowing. A caller wanted to know about the environmental impact of the dumping of babies’ diapers and plastic waste. Another complained that people from towns were dumping plastic bags and waste in rural areas and endangering their livestock.