Attachments
Brief Summary
Many callers to the Radio Ergo feedback platform in the week 22-28 May 2025 mentioned beneficial rainfall coming to their areas. These callers were in central and southern parts of the country, notably Galgadud, Hirshabelle, Bay and Gedo regions. On the other hand, several in northern regions and a few further south complained of continuing drought conditions. Three callers appealed for help after the river Shabelle flooded their farms and homes. Several callers noted that the climate this year had been hotter than in previous years and wanted to know more about climatic changes and forecasts. Conflict in various regions persisted in causing hardship for communities living there. The following summarises the calls by theme.
Aid – in Sool region, a caller in Dharkeyn-geeyo reported what he described as mismanagement of vaccines in the area. He did not give further details, but urged WHO and UNICEF to stop the vaccination programme until the issues had been sorted out. Another caller who didn’t name his location [using a Telesom line] complained that WFP had issued them with cards but they hadn’t received any aid. A female caller in Mudug region, said she had been displaced from Ba'adweyne and they were suffering from food and water shortages. She said they needed urgent assistance.
Floods – in Lower Shabelle region, a female caller in Hantiwadag said they were concerned about river floods that had destroyed their farms and washed away all their crops. She said they had been forced to leave their homes. Other callers in Hawadley, Middle Shabelle region, and Baidoa, Bay region, also reported river flooding of homes and farms and said they needed help. A caller in Mahaday, M. Shabelle, said that they feared floods after the recent rainfall.
Health – two female callers, one in Beletweyne, Hiran region, wanted help and advice for their children suffering from diarrhoea and vomiting. Another male caller in Beletweyne said their one-year-old baby had body rashes and appeared malnourished. [Radio Ergo runs a weekly Radio Doctor show where listeners’ questions are answered by Somali doctors].
Conflict – two callers in Middle Shabelle described how conflict was affecting them. The caller in War-isse said they had been attacked by the Al-Qaeda group [Al- Shabab] who had taken all their property from them. He said people were appealing for help. The other caller in Adale said they were being disturbed constantly by planes above them [sic] making a noise at night that prevented them sleeping. He said they didn’t know where they were from or what they were doing. In Galgadud region, a caller urged the Galmudug government to address the long-running land disputes in the [unspecified] area, warning that they would otherwise take matters into their own hands to protect their land. A caller in Sanag region also said conflict there was causing hardship for local communities.
Climate and Environment – two callers in Togdher region wanted to know why this year the heat was more extreme than in previous years, and why there was drought when this was normally the time for rainfall. They wanted to understand climate change and have more information about the weather forecasts. A youth caller in Bardera complained about the destruction of trees and vegetation in his area. Another caller also noted intense heat recently. [Please contact newsroom@radioergo.org if you are a Somali speaker and would like to participate in Radio Ergo’s climate change and environment programme].
Agriculture – pests were the main problem facing farmers who called the radio’s agriculture programme for advice. Among these, a farmer in Bardera, Gedo region, said all his fruit trees including lemons, mangoes and pawpaw had been attacked by pests and he wanted to know how to deal with them.
Livestock – among callers to the Radio Vet programme, a caller in Kismayo, Lower Juba region, asked for help saying his livestock were sick and he didn’t have the means to treat them. Another caller in Mudug said his goats were suffering from CCPP disease and he may have injected them with expired medicine. He wanted veterinary advice on proper medication and treatment.
Rainfall – many callers celebrated rainfall during the week from locations in Galgadud, Hiran, M. Shabelle, Lower Juba, Bay in particular Baidoa, and Gedo in particular Bardera. Callers said crops were growing and livestock had fodder and were fattening.
Drought/WASH – a caller from Beer, Togdher region, declared that the ‘gu rains had failed as they had received very little rain and the drought persisted. A caller in Sarar said their livestock were dying due to the drought and he wanted their message shared. In Bari region, a caller in Isku-shuban also said they had not had rain and were suffering. A caller in Dusamareb, Galgadud, appealed for help saying they had lost their livestock to prolonged drought in the area. A caller in Beletweyne, Hiran, said the rain had been little and their livestock and farms hadn’t fully recovered from the drought. A caller in Adale, M. Shabelle, wanted help from aid agencies due to the lack of rainfall and continuing drought. A caller in Qorilugud, Togdher region, said they were doing well with the rainfall but had no reservoirs to store the rainwater. He said they needed help in establishing reservoirs and water catchment areas.