Some 50 families who returned over the past eight months from the Dadaab refugee camps in Kenya say they are struggling to rebuild their lives in Baidoa.
Radio Ergo’s Baidoa reporter interviewed several members of the affected families in ADC camp for the displaced.
Fardowsa Jelle Ibrahim returned from Ifo refugee camp seven months ago. She and her family live in a hovel made of branches and old cartons which cannot shelter them from the rain.
Nuney Ibrahim Hassan, 32 with eight children, also returned from Ifo. She appealed for plastic sheets to waterproof her hut. Nuney said she left the refugee camps hoping for better security and a better life, but has been disappointed.
Amino Mohamed shared similar sentiments. “We dearly need plastic sheets to cover our huts in this heavy rainfall. I have five children and my only income is from fetching firewood to sell in the market,” she said.
ADC camp leader Ibrahim Abdi Ali said the families had returned home voluntarily from Dadaab without any support to ease their resettlement. Some were prevented from going back to their farms in Bay region due to insecurity, while all lacked money anyway to invest in starting up farming again.
