Hundreds of pastoralist families who migrated away from southern Somalia’s Bakool to neighbouring Bay and Middle Shabelle regions three years ago have been returning back to their previous villages where the rains have started.
The region was one of the worst hit areas in the country during the prolonged drought.
Mohamed Adan Maalim, a nomadic pastoralist, returned three weeks ago with his family of 10 to Moora Gabey, 30 km south of Hudur in Bakool. He brought back 75 animals out of his original herd of 300 goats, cows and camels. The rest his livestock perished in the drought.
“We have trekked a very long distance in search of pasture for our remaining livestock, we have lost some livestock on the long treks we have made but thank god the rains have com back and the water reservoirs are brimming with water. The land is green now as the Deyr season has just begun, so people have returned to these areas,” Mohamed told Radio Ergo.
Up to 800 families have returned to Moora Gabay, Teet, Madayto, Goroyey, Waney, Farak, Abal and Banjiney villages, between 10 and 90 km from Hudur.
According to residents of villages to the south and east of Hudur, around 30 families are arriving back each day.
The return of the herders has also revived trade in the livestock sector after a year of stagnation.
Abdukadir Hassan Mohamed, a livestock broker in Hudur, told Radio Ergo’s local reporter trade was good and the livestock were much healthier and fetching higher prices than before the rain started.
“The people have returned now, they are bringing in livestock for sale – on a good day I sell around 10 animals these days. Previously people were bringing only sick animals for sale. Now the prices are better and a young male camel can sell at around 18-20 million Somali shillings ($100) whereas last year it would be half that amount,” Abdukadir said.
