Hundreds of residents have begun to flee their homes in the southwestern region of Bakol after the Somali National Army and African Union forces launched a wide-scale offensive against the militant group Al-Shabaab in the Somalia-Ethiopia border region. Most of these families are moving to the areas controlled by the Somali government in the neighboring region of Bay.
About 4,000 displaced people, mostly women and children, have arrived in the regional capital of Baidoa. The IDPs, who fled from Burdhubo, Hudur, and Wajid districts and surrounding villages, have put up hastily made huts on the outskirts of the town. Radio Ergo’s local reporter visited the new camp and said most of the people were women and children who seemed tired and weak.
“We have left everything behind as there was no time to prepare for the trip,” said a 50-year old mother of five children. Fadumo Ishaq. She said she walked with three of her children to Baidoa, taking five days. Ishaq is now in search of her two other children who were left behind in Wajid.
“I don’t know where they are – they were not at home when Al-Shabaab came and told me to leave immediately and they didn’t let me wait for my children or go to look for them in town… I am not sure if they are still alive!” she told Radio Ergo.
At least two trucks carrying around 300 people each are arriving from Wajid and Hudur in Baidoa every day. However, Ishaq wasn’t the only one running around the new arrivals to check anxiously for their missing family members.
A 25 year-old mother, Hawo Ibrahim, said she had been searching for her husband and three children left behind in Kurta, a village between Wajid and Baidoa.
“They were with their father who told me to leave for Baidoa and that he will board the children on the next truck available. Days have passed and they are yet to come here,” Ibrahim told Radio Ergo’s local reporter. “The people who are coming from Kurta told me they didn’t see my family. I am so worried for their safety.” she added.
As the Somali and AMISOM troops advance further on areas controlled by Al-Shabaab, the number of displaced families arriving in Baidoa are expected to increase, said Radio Ergo’s Baidoa reporter. However, the local administration of the town is encouraging residents to prepare to host the influx of displaced families from Bakool region.
Muhyadin Ahmed Roble
