(ERGO) – Residents of Ras Kamboni, Madhawa and Lula islands off the southern coast of Somalia, where a cyclone hit on Tuesday 25 January 2022, are searching for seven missing fishermen. The cyclone destroyed an estimated 25 homes and injured 12 fishermen, four of whom are women.
Radio Ergo’s local correspondent in Kismayo, Ahmed Toronto, interviewed Mohamed Jelle Abdi, a fisherman from Madhawa island, taking part in the search and rescue mission.
Mohamed Jelle Abdi: The cyclone has been gathering pace for a week now. For the first few days the winds were not that strong, and we were fishing as normal. The cyclone that caused the destruction occurred at night. At the moment, we are still experiencing winds, but they are not that strong. The boats have started going back out to sea this morning and they are evacuating the injured fishermen. The destruction is huge. Twenty-four boats were completely destroyed and there are 12 fishermen who have been injured. Some of the fishermen have broken their arms, others have cuts and other wounds.
Radio Ergo: Did you get warnings of the cyclone from Puntland authorities or hear about it from any other source beforehand?
Mohamed Jelle Abdi: No, we didn’t get any warning! We are people living on an island, close to the sea, so whatever has befallen us is from God. The cyclone hit us without warning at sunset. We weren’t aware of it. If we knew it was coming, we would have evacuated, but we didn’t know. The injured fishermen were out at sea fishing when the cyclone hit. So, the cyclone landed on us while busy fishing in the sea.
Radio Ergo: You said seven fishermen are missing since yesterday. Any news about them?
Mohamed Jelle Abdi: We don’t have any news on their whereabouts, we are still searching for them where they were last fishing before the cyclone hit. Both the boats and the fishermen are missing. We don’t know if the cyclone washed them away or if they perished in the sea. The worst hit area is Lula island. We ask our Jubaland government and the international community to assist us. The cyclone has destroyed homes. I am currently in the sea going towards a capsized boat, to evacuate its occupants.
Radio Ergo: Tell us about the destroyed houses? What happened to them?
Mohamed Jelle Abdi: This place is a village and the houses are roofed. The strong winds of the cyclone tore off the rooves from the houses. The old houses with weak structures have come down altogether.
Radio Ergo: What are you doing to salvage the situation now that the cyclone and the winds are still there?
Mohamed Jelle Abdi: We don’t have a solution now, but with God’s grace there will be a lasting solution. At the moment, we are just trying to survive. We ask anyone who could help us, including our Jubaland government to assist us now. We need help!
