Attachments
Brief Analysis
This is our first report of the new year, based on the collection of calls recorded on Radio Ergo’s toll-free platform in the week 1-7 January 2026. The majority of callers spoke about the hardships they are experiencing as a result of the ongoing drought, many of them describing extreme conditions with no water, lack of food and livestock fodder, dried up farms, and dead or sick livestock. Some callers indicated losing livelihoods and driven into destitution after being displaced by conflict. Farmers particularly in Hirshabelle areas complained of aphid attacks on their crops. The majority of calls overall came from central regions and southern regions. (There appears to have been a technical issue on the platform during the week limiting calls from northern regions – we are looking into this).
The Radio Ergo platform is open to audiences across the country, many of whom call to share their daily lives and livelihoods challenges, whilst others engage with some of the thematic programmes we broadcast involving experts on health, farming, livestock, environment, mental health, and nutrition.
We produce and share these weekly analysis reports in order to connect audiences (local communities) with a wider network of relevant stakeholders. The following summarises the week’s calls by theme.
Health – a caller in Baidoa, Bay region, said he was living in an IDP camp, where there was severe drought and diseases were spreading, including whooping cough, measles, and more recently acute watery diarrhoea due to the water shortage. He added that the camp dwellers needed aid organizations to reach them with assistance.
Nutrition – two callers had questions for experts about malnutrition among the elderly. One in Jowhar said they had an elderly person sick and suffering from malnutrition, but local NGOs mainly provided services to children and mothers. He wanted to know how the elderly could access help. A female caller in Lower Shabelle asked what mothers could do if they were unable to breastfeed their babies for two years, as advocated by doctors.
IDPs – in Baidoa, a caller in Bula-Jameo said he was among people displaced from Busle. They had lost their livelihoods and were facing hardships and poverty. In Lower Shabelle region, a female caller in Marka said people had been displaced from El-Warego area and were facing hardships in an IDP camp. She wanted her message to be shared to get help.
Livestock – among callers seeking veterinary help, some were concerned by parasites affecting camels and goats. A female caller in Qansahley, Gedo region, said their livestock were thin and sick, despite being given fodder. She wanted to know how to make them gain weight. A pastoralist in Jarirow, Hiran region, said the drought conditions in the area had caused livestock to be sick. They wanted to know how to treat their herds.
Agriculture – farmers in Beletweyne, Balad, and Jowhar complained of aphids destroying crops such as maize, tomatoes, and animal fodder. Others descried pests they didn’t name eating various crops and vegetables. One caller said there were no crops on his farmland due to water shortage and he wanted advice on how to grow crops with little water.
Drought and water shortage – the biggest number of callers were focused on this topic. There were callers from across Galmudug. A female caller in Bohol said the drought was severe. Among several from Dusamareb, a female caller asked for help due to the drought and water crisis. A caller in Do’oley said they had no water or livestock fodder. In El-dhere, a caller said their farms had failed and they needed help drilling boreholes to serve their water needs. Female callers in Higlale and Mirisyale said they had no water and that livestock were struggling and they needed aid. In Hiran, a farmer in Beletweyne noted the concerning drop in the river Shabelle water level. A female caller said their livestock were dying and the only available water was brackish ground water contaminated with minerals. Another said they were tired of constantly searching for fodder for their livestock. Several called from Middle Shabelle citing tough conditions affecting people and livestock. In Lower Shabelle, a caller in Shalabood said they lacked water and were appealing for help. A caller in Wanlaweyn said a jerrycan of water cost 7,000 shillings. A caller in Warsheikh said they were facing drought and conflict in the area and needed humanitarian intervention. In Janale, two female callers living in camps said they had been displaced by drought and conflict in Awdhegle and were destitute without water and no jobs. In Gedo region, a caller in Bardera said their livestock were dying due to the drought. Several called from Garbaharey citing challenges induced by severe drought. A caller in Luq appealed for food and water aid from agencies. Several callers from other unspecified Jubbaland locations cited hardships affecting people and killing livestock. Two females called from Ethiopia’s Somali Region, including one in Ferfer, citing dead or dying livestock, lack of food, and appealing for aid.