(ERGO) – Yasmin Abdi Mohamed, a vegetable vendor, has to split her small income between her immediate family and her displaced relatives living in a camp in the northern Somali town of Galkayo.
She sends food every week to her brother and parents in Doha-Mudug camp. But the earnings from her kiosk do not stretch far enough.
“I have no alternative but to stand firmly and provide food as well as other basic needs for them because the conditions in the camps are very hard,” said Yasmin.
“I have no other source of income, but I will keep on providing as long as I can, because they don’t have any other place to go.”
There are many people in urban areas like Yasmin, who are being forced to carry the burden of supporting their poverty-stricken kin after years of drought.
There are no aid agencies in this part of the Mudug region helping them out.
Yasmin’s brother, Abbas Abdi Mohamed, arrived in Doha-Mudug camp in 2017 after losing the entire herd of livestock that was their source of livelihood in Dawgan, a remote rural area some 90 km from Galkayo.
Abbas, 34, moved with his five children and parents to the camp because they did not know what else to do.
“We depend on what my sister gives us for survival. After a few days, my wife or I go to her to get something for the family. She has been supporting us for the last two years. She is the breadwinner of her family and mine,” said Abbas.
Abbas lost a hand 16 years ago when an explosive remnant of war exploded while he was herding his livestock. His disability means he cannot do most casual jobs to earn any income.
“I have been living in this camp for a long time. I hope for some support or restocking of my livestock. My wish is that one day I can go back to my former life,” he said.
Farhiya Sa’id Olad arrived in the camp two years ago. She is the sole provider for her three children, as her husband divorced her and ceased support.
She is also being supported by relatives providing two meals a day for survival.
“About 10 of my relatives living in Galkayo have taken shared responsibility for providing me with food. We have nothing here, so without their support, I don’t how my life would be,” said Farhiya.
She came from the rural area of Degari, where they lost 150 goats and a camel to drought.
The camp has experienced water shortages for a long time. Farhiya has to make do with 20 litres of water bought from a nearby well for 2,000 Somali shillings.
There are no health facilities or school in the camp and no regular aid.
