Hundreds of families are fleeing their homes in Gedo’s biggest town of Bardere for the fear of imminent fighting between Somali government troops with forces from the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) and the militant group of Al-Shabaab. The residents are leaving the town using vehicles and donkey carts, while others who could not afford to hire transportation are fleeing on foot, according to Radio Ergo’s reporter in the town.
The joint Somali and African forces that are advancing to the town from two fronts are now positioned 50km and 65km to Bardere respectively, thus increasing fear among the locals. The displacing people, mainly women and children, are moving to safer towns and villages in the region.
Rukaya Ali, a mother of ten children who was among the fleeing families told Radio Ergo she opted to leave the city with her children to Garbaharrey. This town is controlled by Al-Shabaab and several people have died for hunger and malnutrition last year. “We are not fleeing from conflict alone. Everything has changed in the town. The food stores are closed and as a result food prices have risen up,” said Rukaya.
Radio Ergo’s Gedo reporter says one fourth of the local population left the town to Middle and Lower Juba regions as well as other towns in Gedo. Abdullahi Mumin has been a porter in the town, but now fled with his three wives and their children to Sakow town in Middle Jubba region.
“We have left everything including our own house and small farm behind because the town is becoming a war zone,” said Mumin. He is now living in a camp for displaced people in Sakow where aid agencies operate hardly.
