(ERGO) – Families in Unuun village in Qandala district have been accessing highly coveted water resources for free from a water reservoir constructed by the local people in this remote part of Somalia’s Puntland state.
After being built in April, unexpected short rainfall in mid-August filled the new dam, which is offering great relief to the drought-hit families already in the village as well as to those migrating there from other parts of Bari region.
Pastoralist families in Unuun used to have to collect water from as far as 50 kilometres, paying $10 a barrel.
Mohamed Hassan Abdalla, a pastoralist in Unuun, was getting increasingly worried about the survival of his remaining 300 goats and 30 camels and would spend roughly $300 every month to get them water. He already lost 200 goats and 10 camels to the drought.
“We give our livestock water every two or three days now,” he told Radio Ergo. “Before they would stay for a week without water. Our camels would also stay for 15 days without drinking water and now we give them water after six days. I can easily get water since it’s near us.”
Mohamud had to migrate out of Unuun twice during this year due to biting drought and water shortage. Both times he migrated to Tageer village in Baargaal, 150 kilometres away from Unuun, to water and feed his livestock.
He spent $4,500 on these two journey, mostly on transport and buying water. He paid half of the amount and still owes the rest.
“Whenever you migrate you encounter challenges with the livestock, and even the change of environment. We didn’t have many provisions and we were trying to save our livestock,” he explained.
Mohamed and his family of 14, including two wives, are now relieved from the burden of buying water so he plans to pay off his debts with the money he is saving.
“We were lucky to get water in the reservoir and it was greatly beneficial. All living things need water, and we are happy to have got water,” said Mohamed
The chief of Unuun, Awil Shire Kaatun, told Radio Ergo they had received more than 1,000 families migrating to the village since the water became available.
Among the incoming pastoralists is Mahad Said Abdi and his family, who reached Unuun on 25 August after moving from Alula, 250 kilometres away, in the far northeastern corner of Bari. They were on the road for three days hoping to get to the water at the reservoir.
“The conditions were very tough, we walked partly and used a vehicle partly. I have 200 goats and 52 camels. We arrived with our livestock, and we were happy to have got water,” he said.
According to Mahad they used to have to wait for days for commercial tankers to reach them in Alula brining water over the mountainous terrain from 70 kilometres away.
After 10 days in Unuun, he says his worries about water have been erased and his livestock can get fodder.
This water reservoir was financed by local people, businessmen, and the diaspora, who pooled together $60,000. It was constructed by Midnimo voluntary group, a local organisation that helps collecting funds to address the needs of communities.
Said Awil Osman, a member of Midnimo, said this water could last 10,000 families for eight months.
“There is 38,000 cubic metres of water in the reservoir, which is 250 metres deep and 50 metres wide. This place is strategic as three valleys feed into this water reservoir, and we hope that it will continue to provide water,” he said.
People in Unuun village had been dependent on small ponds where the water would collect.
