Hundreds of people have fled their homes in and around Tosweyne village, about 18 km south of Bay’s Bardale district, following clashes between Somali government forces and Al-Shabaab fighters in the past two weeks. The people, mostly women and children, have arrived in Bardale, where there is no assistance for them.
Bisharo, an 80-year old woman, told Radio Ergo’s local reporter that she had lost four family members during the conflict, in which hundreds of houses had been burnt down.
“I have lost my son, my brother and two of his children,” Bisharo told Radio Ergo. Her house was one of more than 300 properties burnt to the ground in the last two weeks. Bisharo said she was struggling to get the basics including food, water and shelter and water. There are no aid agencies operating in the area to help displaced people.
Another survivor of the conflict, Abdirisaq Adow Isaq, was inside his house when it was set on fire. “I jumped from the window while the fire was spreading,” Isaq told Radio Ergo. He managed to escape with his family members to Bardale district. He said he was uncertain when they would be able to return home.
Tosweyne is an agriculturally productive part of Bay, and most people affected are farmers.
