Fishermen on the river Shabelle in Beledweyne have lost boats, motors and nets in recent floods, forcing many out of business.
Abdikadir Qase, 40, a father of eight, is one of the affected fishermen. He told Radio Ergo’s local reporter he had lost his three fishing nets in the floods and was forced to stop fishing.
“My life and that of my family depended on fishing. I used to get 12 kg of fish on a daily basis, which I used to cover the basic needs of my family including the school fees of my children,” he said.
Abdikadir’s family went to Eljalle area outside town to join hundreds of other flood-displaced residents camping there in makeshift houses, while he stayed back in town looking for ways to resume his work.
“Fishing is the only skill I know and I have worked with it for many years.”
Osman Elmi Abdi, 35, father of four, is among IDPs in Buloyaqub camp in the town. He told Radio Ergo that he had lost six of his seven fishing nets in the floods.
“This was the time we normally used to fish a lot, but the floods destroyed our expectations,” he said.
“I used to get around 12 kg of fish worth about one million Somali shillings [$50], but now I work as a porter to try to feed my family as I don’t have any other alternative.”
Hassan Bashir sells fried fish in the town. His business was also hit by the floods.
“I used to buy fish from the local fishermen. If they don’t have fish, I can’t get it anywhere else, so this is how my living was destroyed,” he said.
