Attachments
Brief Analysis
This is our first capture of audience calls during the current ongoing season of Ramadan. The report analyses the experiences, needs, and requests of callers to Radio Ergo’s nationwide audience feedback platform during the week 26 February to 4 March 2026. The majority of callers were preoccupied by the harsh impacts of the drought on their lives and livelihoods. In terms of numbers, there were more callers from central regions than from other locations. Many described losses of livestock and crops and population displacements; many asked for aid and support with their basic needs. Some reported health issues among their communities, whilst many livestock callers raised questions around diseases affecting their animals and wanted treatment or other help. The following summarises the calls by theme.
Aid & IDPs – a female caller in Hiran region wanted Radio Ergo to share her message calling on WFP and the government to release the Bahnano [social safety net fund] cash aid. A caller in Burao, Togdher region, said their situation was dire and they were struggling to find meals to break their Ramadan fasts. He said they needed help. Another caller also mentioned the lack of food to break the fast. A caller in Guriel, Galgadud, said he was among IDP families who had been displaced after losing their livestock. He said they were appealing for help as their conditions were poor. A caller in Hobyo, Mudug, asked for aid organisations to reach out to the vulnerable IDP families in the area who needed help. A caller in Jowhar, Middle Shabelle, said that being among vulnerable IDP families in the area they needed the government to reach out to them with assistance.
Health & Nutrition – a caller in Abudwak, Galgadud, noting the severe ongoing drought, said they needed help in treating children suffering stomach diseases and diarrhoea outbreaks. Another caller in an unspecified location in Galgadud mentioned a disease ‘resembling smallpox’ that was causing rashes and sores on people’s bodies. A caller in Herale, Galgadud, asked if there were malnutrition treatments such as sachets available for the older people.
Mental health – a caller in Wanlaweyn asked if dizziness and headaches could be caused by malnutrition. Another in Mogadishu described suffering from stress, lack of sleep and weight loss. A female caller in Jowhar complained of constant headaches and problems with memory. A father in Bardera, Gedo, wanted advice about his child who wandered aimlessly in a world of his own. [These callers were addressing their problems to the experts participating in Radio Ergo’s weekly mental health programme, maankaab.]
Agriculture – farmers in various regions called for experts to respond to their challenges mainly with pests, including aphids and other insects, as well as crop diseases. A farmer in Abudwak said his lemon trees were drying up despite being watered. A female farmer growing tomatoes in Hiran said the plants were dying due to disease and pests although they were watered from the river. A female farmer growing carrots in Burfule, M. Shabelle, said she and others were losing their produce to small white pests. [Radio Ergo’s weekly farming programme remains popular among audiences].
Livestock – callers in Sanag and Sool were concerned about goat diseases, against the backdrop of the drought conditions, as well as the spread of ali garob parasite trees that one herder said was causing sickness among his herd. A female caller in Puntland wanted to know how often to feed and water her goats that had become very frail. Callers in Abudwak and Beletweyne said their goats were dying shortly after giving birth. A caller in Mataban, Hiran, wanted treatment for their goats that were dying of disease known locally as fujiye [goat plague?]. [The weekly vet programme brings in experts to respond to livestock questions and may also contribute to raising alerts about outbreaks needing response].
Rainfall – three callers in Sanag and Togdher said they had received a little rainfall. The caller from Badhan was also concerned about local conflict. One caller in Wajid, Bakool mentioned receiving a little rainfall.
Drought and impact – in Somaliland and the northern regions, callers in Berbera, Buhodle, El-Afweyen, Hingalol, and Lasanod (among other locations not specified) described severe water shortages, dying and sick livestock, poorly families, and a lack of aid. A female caller in Hingalol appealed for help, saying the severe drought in the area had left the people and livestock grappling with water shortage. Another in Lasanod said their livestock had been badly affected, their children were malnourished, and they were appealing for help.
In Puntland, pastoralists in Bari region, including Karkar, said they had been badly affected by drought and water shortage and wanted their messages to be shared with responders. A caller in Jowle, Nugal region, appealed for help saying their livestock were dying. In Mudug, a female caller in Galkauo said the rains had failed. A caller in Harardhere said the situation was desperate and their livestock were dying.
The largest number of drought-related calls came from across Galgadud region. In Abudwak, a caller said they were feeding their livestock with cooked maize and that there was water and food shortage in the area. Another said there was disease among the livestock and they needed aid groups to help. Callers in Balanbale and Dusamareb described lack of water and fodder and dying livestock. Callers in El-bur, El-dher, and Godinlabe also expressed their urgent need for aid. Among several in Guriel, a female caller said the Ramadan fasting had been very challenging, and another said livestock were dying in the drought. A caller in Qayib said they were short of food and animals were dying.
In Hiran region, a caller in Mahas asked why aid agencies had not responded to their needs, as they faced water and food shortage. A caller in Mataban appealed for food aid. Another Hiran caller said they had lost their animals and were short of food and the people were now at risk.
Callers in Adale, M. Shabelle; Banadir; Qoryalle and Barawe in L. Shabelle, said livestock were dying and conditions were poor. Among callers from Gedo region, a female in Bardera said they were facing severe drought and their livestock had been decimated.