Hundreds of families have fled their homes in Tosweyne village, about 18 km south of Bay’s Bardale district, following clashes between Somali government forces and Al-Shabaab fighters who used to control the village. The people have fled to Bardale district and several other villages including Kurtun and Hobashole. Most of the displaced people are farmers.
Radio Ergo’s local reporter who visited Tosweyne said the rich agricultural area was abandoned and only a few people had stayed behind to look after the property. Ali Nor Mohamed, a 75 year old father of several children, had sent his three wives and their children out of the village. “I am just here to watch our houses,” Mohamed told Radio Ergo.
He added that repeated conflicts in the village had made worse the already deteriorating standards of living. Farming families, the majority, had faced successive seasons of poor rains and low food production. More than 500 farmers have already moved to Hudur and Baidoa due to drought.
