Life in Naaso-hablood Camp: A Struggle Against Drought and Displacement
The Backdrop of Desperation
Pastoralist families fleeing the crippling drought in eastern Somaliland are finding themselves in a dire situation at Naaso-hablood camp, located on the outskirts of Hargeisa. With food and clean water in short supply, these families are living in substandard shelters that offer little protection from the elements or adequate sanitation.
A Flood of Displacement
Many of these families began arriving in early October, having lost all of their livestock over two dry seasons. Regions such as Boo’ley and Dhararweyne, once home to thriving herds, now stand barren. Unable to sustain their nomadic lifestyle, families have packed what they could and migrated towards the city, where survival remains a daily struggle.
Hamda’s Heartbreaking Reality
Hamda Ahmed Hassan, a mother of seven, epitomizes the resilience and resolve of those displaced. As the sole breadwinner, Hamda battles daily to secure basic meals for her family. “When I find food, I cook it. When I don’t, we go hungry,” she shared, reflecting on the precarious balance she maintains to keep her children fed.
Hamda relates to listeners how her situation grows more desperate: “Sometimes I get food but can’t find water or charcoal to cook it. I don’t have money to buy them.” Her family’s reliance on community donations provides only meager support, often receiving just one jerrycan of water each day.
The Framework of Survival
The makeshift shelter of plastic sheets and old clothes offers minimal protection. It’s a fragile home where Hamda and her children seek refuge, as they cannot afford rent in Hargeisa. “The drought killed all our livestock, and no one in our family has a job,” she explains starkly.
Her children, previously enrolled in Koranic school, have also been forced to leave their education; Hamda cannot afford the $5 fee to reenroll them. With her husband battling mental illness and unable to contribute, the family’s financial burdens weigh heavily on Hamda’s shoulders.
Echoes of Suffering
Asha Nur Ali, another resilient mother, mirrors Hamda’s struggles. With 12 children to care for after fleeing Dhararweyne village, Asha describes their situation as “dire.” The family survives on the scant charity offered by neighbors, but some days they have little more than black tea to sustain them. “Even right now, my children haven’t eaten anything today,” Asha lamented, explaining how difficult it has become to even find food.
Asha battles cancer, facing both physical pain and an uphill struggle for basic healthcare. Denied treatment due to unpaid bills at a private clinic, the lack of health facilities within the camp compounds her suffering. “There’s no health facility in the camp,” she said, highlighting the desperate need for medical assistance in their community.
The Sanitation Crisis
Beyond food and health challenges, poor sanitation exacerbates the severe living conditions in Naaso-hablood camp. With no toilets available, families resort to open pits that quickly overflow during rainfall, creating a hazardous environment riddled with health risks.
“We use open pits as toilets,” Asha explains, “When it rains, the smell spreads through the whole area, and it’s unbearable.” This unsanitary situation threatens the wellbeing of all residents, emphasizing the urgent need for proper sanitation facilities.
The Voice of Leadership
Mohamed Ibrahim Ahmed, the chairman of Naaso-hablood camp, sheds light on the grim realities faced by families burdened by displacement. “The lack of toilets has caused severe sanitation problems,” he outlines, underlining the precarious conditions that are made worse by overcrowding.
In October alone, approximately 100 new families arrived, fleeing the escalating effects of drought. Despite reporting their plight to local authorities, assistance has yet to emerge, leaving the camp residents grappling with extreme poverty and vulnerability.
The Systemic Challenges
The prolonged drought has devastated not just livestock but entire livelihoods, forcing pastoralist families into a cycle of poverty with no alternative means of income. This migration to urban areas, once perceived as a chance for better opportunities, has instead resulted in abject hardship for many.
Families like Hamda’s and Asha’s serve as poignant reminders of the human cost behind environmental calamities. Their stories are a call for attention and action, highlighting the urgent need for support and resources for displaced communities in Somaliland.
