(ERGO) – Mohamed Hussein Egal and his family narrowly escaped when flash floods raged through their IDP camp in Galgadud, central Somalia on the night of 10 May.
As water filled the house, he acted quickly to save everyone from being washed into a nearby water catchment by the force of the floods.
“I took a rope I had in my house and tied all the seven members of my family by the stomach to a tree outside our huts. I also tied the rope to my hand,” Mohamed recounted to Radio Ergo’s local reporter. “We stayed tied up there until the flood water subsided in the morning and then I left with my family to this highland area for safety.”
The family has been sleeping outside in an open patch of land near Salama IDP camp on the outskirts of Abudwaq. They are among 750 IDP families forced out of the camp following three weeks of heavy downpours and flooding that destroyed the flimsy houses that the displaced people occupy.
Mohamed, a casual labourer, said they lost everything in the disaster.
“All our property and utensils were washed by the water. We are surviving on donations handed out from local businesspeople,” he said.
More than anything he wants tents to shelter the family, as they have suffered in two downpours during the past week.
“If only we could get tents to shelter, and food to cook, that would be very helpful. None of the displaced families here has any assets, not even one goat! We are all in the same position,” he said.
Faduma Shaal Mohamoud and her husband are both elderly and blind. They were fortunate to be rescued from the flood by a group of youth in Salama IDP camp.
She told Radio Ergo how the flood waters smashed her against a wall, injuring her face, while her husband was struggling to keep hold of her hand.
“I was pulled out of the flood water unconscious. I was unable to talk for two days and nights due to the injury caused to my mouth by the ordeal,” she said, complaining that she was finding it hard to speak due to the injury.
Fadumo said she and her husband have not received any help and have been living in the cold under a tree, surviving on tea. Another displaced woman sheltering with them shares whatever she brings back from begging in the market.
“We ask for tents from anyone who can help us with one. We are old and can’t sleep in the cold,” Fadumo pleaded.
The chairman of Salama camp, Indiriis Adan Abdulle, said his team has been collecting dry food donations from the business community in Abudwaq, although they only gathered enough for 50 of the needy families.
He said there were 20 blind or visually impaired elderly people living in the camp, who were dependent on support from others. The camp leaders used to collect food from the better off camp residents to distribute to the most destitute, but even this support system has been destroyed by the floods.
