(ERGO) – Like many Somali herders desperate to save their drought-hit livestock from death, Hassan Hared Omar had been carrying his most feeble goats on his back on the 32 km walk to the river Juba from their village in the southwestern district of Burdhubo.
The only borehole in Hassan’s village of Dhidid dried up some weeks ago. Last month, two of his donkeys and five goats died from lack of water. His herd of 100 goats is down to just 60 due to the prolonged drought.
“At first we used to carry the one or two animals that were not able to walk to the river,” Hassan told Radio Ergo. “But now we are tired as too many are unable to walk. If the rains don’t come this week or some help is not delivered, the livestock will be really in danger.”
Just as he was about to give up, Hassan’s family received five barrels of water from the recently formed drought response committee that is trucking water to the most critically affected villages in parts of the district furthest away from the river.
“Somehow, we are relieved. We use this water for drinking and allocate some water for the livestock and some for family use,” said Hassan.
Burdhubo district commissioner, Hassan Mohamud Ali, told Radio Ergo they have made 15 deliveries of water to 1,500 families in seven villages in the past two weeks.
The planning began in July when the administration formed the drought response committee to work with local traders and the diaspora community to collect financial contributions. Whilst Burdubo town sits on the river Juba, the outlying villages have suffered badly from water shortage.
“We have spent $3,000 to transport water to those areas. Our target is the most seriously affected areas in the district. The authorities are working on ways to save lives in these drought-hit areas,” the commissioner said.
He said they aim to continue water trucking until the expected rains come in the next two months.
Mohamed Nur Abdi in Washaqa-dar village said he had to abandon 15 weak goats on the way to the river because they could not walk any further.
“I used to buy two barrels [of water] after every three days but later on we could not afford that. On our way to the river, if any animal fails to walk, we leave it there because we cannot carry them,” Mohamed told Radio Ergo.
Mohamed’s family of 11 children are eking out the three barrels of water they received from the authorities. But the water is almost finished.
Mohamed Dhore Hassan, a trader in Burdhubo and an organiser of the water trucking, said more contributions were needed.
“We have urged business people to contribute some money. You will all be called on to contribute something to save these needy people!” he stated.
The villages targeted for water deliveries are El-waran, Bay-Gadud, Washaqa-dar, Wel-del, Qaydo, Dhidid and Aro-Dubo.
