Attachments
Brief Analysis
Calls this week (29 January – 4 February 2026) were focused mainly on the harsh impacts of the drought. People called Radio Ergo’s independent audience feedback platform from across all parts of the country expressing their challenges and hardships and how they wanted authorities and the wider aid community to help. The following summarises the calls by theme.
Aid/IDPs – a caller in Abudwak said some IDPs in Borre camp had received Bahnano cash aid while others including himself had not. He wanted their concern shared with the aid organisations distributing the cash. A female caller in Janale, Lower Shabelle region, said they had been displaced from Aw-dhegle and were appealing for aid. Another female caller in Siinaay, Gedo region, said she was among those displaced from Bula-Abeb after their farms failed. She said they were facing food shortages and needed help. A third female caller in Wehan well area, in Beletweyne, Hiran, said their livestock had perished and their children were struggling. She said they were not able to put meals together.
Livestock – a caller in Abudwak said their goats were coughing and drooling and they had lost many of them. A female caller in Guriel said their goats were sick with running noses and were dying. Another said her goats were scratching their until they bleed and she wanted the vet experts’ advice on treatment. In Somali Region of Ethiopia, a caller said his goats were sick and thin with weak limbs and he wanted to know how to treat them.
Agriculture – among callers to the radio’s farming experts, a female farmer said their crops had been invaded by ants covering the plantations and laying larvae, and she wanted help in controlling them. Two callers including one in El-gal, Hiran, wanted help with insects possibly aphids affecting their sesame plants. Others had questions about the planting and nurturing of trees.
Rainfall – two listeners called the platform to say they had received rainfall this week. One in Buhodle, Togdher, said they were doing well, and the other in Gedo (location unspecified) said they were very happy.
Drought crisis – among callers from Somaliland, a caller in Borama, Awdal, complained about the prolonged and widespread drought. Among callers in Togdher region, two in Dadmaren wanted the local authorities, who they said had neglected them, as well as aid organisations, to respond to their needs especially water shortage. One of these callers called the platform again, adding that they had no MCHs or schools in their area, alongside their main concern over water shortage. He said people wanted the authorities to bring services to the community and asked for his message to be shared. In Beer, a farmer said none of the farmers had any water to irrigate their farmland. A caller in Sahil appealed for aid organisations to help. Two callers in Ula-weyne described severe drought in the area affecting the people and livestock. They said the goats were helpless and they needed food, water and fodder aid. They added that the area was remote with poor roads but they needed aid to get through to save them and their remaining livestock. Several called from Sanag region, including a female saying they faced food shortage and needed aid. Another said their livestock were dying. In Sool, a caller in Ainabo said their livestock were dying, they hadn’t had rain for two years, and they were praying for relief from this drought.
In Puntland, there were calls about the pressures of the drought from Karkar, Qardo, and Muranyo in Bari region. The Qardo caller said livestock were dying and they were appealing for help. A caller from Eyl in Nugal region said people there were facing food, water and fodder shortage and were appealing for help. In Mudug, a female caller reported that their livestock were dying due to the drought.
There were many calls from across Galgadud region. A caller in Abudwak said they were facing water shortages, their livestock were dying, and they needed water aid. A caller in Dusamareb said he owned a farm that had failed due to water shortage. People were praying for rainfall. A caller in El-lahelay said their livestock were dying and wanted to know how the veterinary experts could help save them. Among several in Guriel, one caller said that people’s lives had been upended by the drought, there was no water after three missed rainy seasons, livestock were dying, and they needed help from aid organisations. In Hiran region, various callers in Beletweyne said their livestock were dying, farms had failed, prices were rising, and there was an increase in displacement. A female caller in Mahas stated that their situation was ‘not normal’. Middle Shabelle region produced a lot of callers this week, mainly from Jowhar. Most called for aid especially water. A caller in Ali-warabey area said their livestock were weak and diseased. A female in an unspecified part of the region said their goats had died of drought and their crops had also failed due to the water shortage. In Lower Shabelle region, two callers in Wanleweyn said they had lost many of their livestock, and they were facing water and food shortages. A caller in Merka said they had no fodder or water and their goats were dying. Callers in Washaqo, Bakool region, and Burhakaba, Bay region, spoke of water shortage, food shortage, and dying livestock. Two callers in Lower Juba region indicated they were suffering from the drought. Among callers from Gedo region, one in Bardera said there was intense heat and children were sick with diseases including a spreading outbreak of diarrhoea. Another in Qansahley called on Somali people to help them, as they hadn’t had rainfall for two years, their livestock were thin, and intense heat and drought continued. A caller in Labiley requested water trucking services to the area.