Attachments
Brief Analysis
Calls to Radio Ergo’s audience feedback platform during the final days of Ramadan and start of Eid (week 26 March – 1 April 2025) indicated some rainfall being received in a few scattered parts of the country, as was forecast, but the continuing drought across the country remained the topic of concern among the largest number of callers. Several callers in northern and central parts said their livestock were sick or dying, whilst farmers in parts of the south spoke of crop failure due to the drought. Many people wanted aid or assistance due to the harsh impacts of the drought. The following summarises the calls by theme.
Rainfall – a caller in Sanag said they had been getting rainfall for the last few days. Another in Qardo, Bari, said they had had some light rainfall but it hadn’t made the vegetation or grazing grow. A few callers in Galgadud, Hiran, Middle Shabelle, Bakool, Lower Shabelle, Banadir, as well as Ethiopia’s Somali Region, mentioned rainfall. However, whilst the caller in Bakool said their livestock were doing better now, they lacked medicines to treat the sick animals. The caller in Middle Shabelle wanted to know if the current rains signified the actual ‘gu seasonal rainfall or were just unexpected downpours.
Weather forecasts – Radio Ergo is airing the weather updates that have resumed from the FAO-SWALIM team. Information on the weather continued to be of interest to listeners included in this report. A caller in Galgadud, for example, said people usually believed that hot temperatures were a good sign of the rains being close, but they had heard from the experts that there were disease outbreaks in hot weather. The caller wanted to know ‘which was which.’ A caller in Somaliland wanted more details about which areas had received rainfall.
Aid – a caller in Abudwak, Galgadud, appealed for aid agencies to reach them with food and water aid. Another IDP caller in an unspecified location in Puntland said they were desperate, as they used to get aid from relief organisations but had been neglected. He added that their shelters provided no protection from the sun or rain and their conditions were dire.
Health – a caller in Janale, Lower Shabelle, noted an upsurge in mosquitoes and wanted information on getting rid of them.
Jobs, Social – a caller in Burao, Togdher, wanted government agencies to respond to their message about unemployment among the youth. A caller in Mogadishu noted the widespread abuse in towns and villages of the opioid pills, Tramadol. He said the trend was a social menace.
Drought and Water Shortage – a female caller in Hargeisa said their livestock were dying due to the drought and they hadn’t yet had rainfall, although they were praying for it. Callers in Ali-Sahin and Burao in Togdher region said severe drought and water shortage were affecting the people and their livestock. In Sanag, a female caller in Garadag said they were suffering from water shortage and drought and their livestock were affected by diseases. Another in the region said they were facing drought, conflicts and displacement of people, and were appealing for aid. In Sool region, a female caller in Dhahan said the people and livestock were consuming brackish water and it was affecting their health. Another caller said he had lost one of his camels. In Puntland, callers in Alula, Bari region, and Burtinle, Nugal region, complained of ongoing drought and lack of water. In Galgadud, one caller in Abudwak said they needed water pumps to access water from deep water wells and wanted aid agencies to help. Another said their livestock were dying. A caller in Gidheys also said their livestock were dying. Among callers from Guriel, one said he was a farmer and his crops had failed due to water shortages. A caller in Landher said conflict was compounding the challenges of drought and water shortage. Among several callers from Hiran region, a female caller in Beledweyne said they were still in the dry season and the water was turning sour. They needed the water at the wells to be filtered for consumption. Another said they were pastoralists whose livestock were in a dire condition due to water and fodder shortages. In Bay region, a female caller in Baidoa said their farms had been hit by drought and water shortages. She appealed for water aid so they could revive the farms. A caller in Burhakaba said their goats were sick and weak due to hunger and they needed rain. Callers in Qansahley and Daynuney also described their hardships. In Gedo region, a caller in Bardera said their farms had failed and they were praying for rain. A caller in Lower Shabelle, location not specified, said the drought in the region was severe and the livestock were dying.
Locusts – one caller in Togdher said they were concerned about swarms of locusts that had descended on the vegetation and they need help controlling them.