Attachments
Brief Analysis
Calls about the worsening impact of drought dominated the feedback gathered on Radio Ergo’s nationwide audience call-in platform in the week 18-24 February 2025. Notable locations mentioned by significant numbers of callers were regions in Somaliland, across Galmudug, and Hirshabelle. Many callers said their livestock were in a concerning condition, while some in Galgadud, Hiran and Middle Shabelle said livestock were dying. Most callers asked for aid or assistance of some kind. Many said they were also praying for rain. The challenges of livestock diseases, often combined with drought, were also prominent. The following summarises the calls by theme.
Aid – a caller in Dhabad, Galgadud region, said they had been registered by an aid organisation that promised them $110 for three months. He didn’t name the organisation but complained that they hadn’t received anything and were facing a dire situation caused by drought.
Migration – a caller in Middle Shabelle region observed that there had been an increase in the number of people leaving on overseas trips due to unemployment. He said he was a farmer growing maize and beans.
Conflict – callers in Sanag and Hiran complained that conflicts in their areas were causing loss of life and disruption to livelihoods. A caller in Dhaban-kutaal in Sanag region said he was among 12 men in the area who were stranded, some unable to work and lacking food. It was not clear what had happened to them but the caller said they need medical help and ambulances.
Nutrition – a female caller in Dusamareb, Galgadud, said her baby was malnourished and not breastfeeding and she wanted help and advice. Another female caller in Guriel wanted information about malnutrition affecting elderly people.
Wildlife conflict – callers from pastoralist communities in several regions of the country complained about attacks on people and their livestock by wild animals, especially hyenas and foxes. This has been a popular topic of discussion among Radio Ergo audiences for months, with debate on the ethics and hazards of controlling wildlife through the use of poison. A female caller from Guriel said the drought in their area was severe and their livestock were dying. She said foxes had been attacking their goats and they needed help in dealing with them.
Drought and water shortage – in Togdher region, a caller in Galoley said the drought was severe and had been prolonged, leaving their livestock in dire condition. He said they were appealing for help. Several called from parts of Sanag region, including Baqeyle, Hulul, and Lasqoray. Two female callers in Hulul said they were short of water and food and needed aid organisations to help them. In central Somalia, a caller in Haradhere, Mudug region, said they needed aid as they had no water or fodder for their animals. The highest number of calls were from locations in Galgadud, including Abudwak, Galmegag, Adado, Dusamareb, Guriel, Bali-inle, Dooley, Mareer-gur, and Shimbirale. A caller in Abudwak said his goats were dying of drought and diseases. Others in Adado said livestock were dying, people were being displaced, and there were no aid organisations there. Female callers in Dusamareb, Shimbirale, and Guriel mentioned livestock dying and appealed for aid including water delivery. A caller in Bali-inle said they hadn’t had rainfall for two years, livestock were dying and the people were at risk. A caller in Mareergur said the drought was everywhere affecting pastoralists and their livestock. He asked Ergo to share their message with the aid organisations so that they could get help. Among callers from Hiran, locations mentioned included Beletweyne, El-jalle, El-ali, Ali-ganey, and Mataban. A female caller in Ali-ganey said their livestock were dying and the water wells had dried up. Others appealed for response from aid agencies. In Middle Shabelle, a caller in Warsheikh spoke of widespread drought in the area and livestock dying. He said they needed help.
Livestock – many of the callers about livestock diseases also mentioned drought conditions. One female caller in Do'oley, Galgadud, said their livestock were sick with CCPP disease and they needed aid organisations to help with treatment. A caller in Bardera, Gedo, said his donkey were sick and he wanted advice on treating them.