(ERGO) – Dalmar Addow Maalin, who is blind, has to travel 10 kilometres a day crossing three districts in the Somali capital Mogadishu in order to get from home, to work, and to his studies.
In the rainy weather, with some of the city streets in bad repair, moving around without any help is impossible.
“I have to wait for at least 20 minutes for a bus,” he told Radio Ergo. “One day I was on my way to work when I fell into a big puddle on the road. I ruined my clothes and sprained my ankle.“
Three of four roads in his Dharkanley neighborhood become unpassable in the rainy seasons. The one that remains opens is usually too congested for him to navigate.
Dalmar missed work for two months, losing his income as he is paid for the hours he teaches at a school in Kahda district. He failed on his $60 monthly rent payments. Then in November, when heavy rains fell, he was house-bound again for several days. He also missed his classes at Jobkey University in Hodan district.
“When it rains the pickup stops for the buses change and there is no one to warn you or help you move around. It is really tough for people with disabilities, those unable to walk, the deaf and especially the blind,” Dalmar complained.
On his small income, he cannot afford to pay four to five dollars a day to ride in bajaj taxis.
Abdisalam Mukhtar Mohamud is a bajaj driver and himself disabled following an old gunshot injury. As the head of Dayax, a local association supporting people with disabilities, he knows how much the bad weather intensifies the frustrations experienced by disabled people in the city suburbs.
He said more than 400 people with disabilities live in Dharkanley district and they all encounter additional difficulties during the rain.
As well as infrastructural improvements, however, there is a need for changes in social attitudes towards disabled people. Dalmar’s experience is that few city residents show any kindness or go out of their way to help. Once he walked unknowingly into a wet, muddy area and heard other people laughing at him.
“I asked why they were laughing when they could just come to my aid. I heard them shout back why a blind man was even walking the streets,” he said.
