At least 70 displaced families in Baidoa district of Bay region have received new houses at a time they were facing appalling conditions in their camps.
The families, displaced from parts of Bakol region, said they now felt relieved to have proper shelter.
The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) in collaboration with the Baidoa district administration facilitated the construction of the temporary houses erected at ADC3 neighborhood on the southern outskirts of the town.
Sumayo Iman Ahmed, 80, who fled from Wajid district in Bakol region a year ago, told Radio Ergo’s local reporter she was very happy with the new house.
“I was displaced from Bakol due to severe drought. Thank god, after seven months of experiencing difficult living conditions including extreme heat, my children and I are happy that we now have a proper shelter. Last night and the night before, we were relieved from the cold that comes in the night,” she said.
Asha Ali Abdirahman, 35, a mother of five, told Radio Ergo she had stayed for six months in a flimsy hut that gave no protection from the weather. She was glad to have something more sturdy as the seasonal rains had already started in parts of the southern regions.
There is a high number of displaced people in Baidoa. They complain about a variety of difficulties but during rainy seasons they face worsening conditions including health and shelter problems.
Many displaced people running away from the blockaded districts in Bakol still continue to arrive in Baidoa every week.
