(ERGO) – Ahmed Abukar Abdulle was one of 50 businesspeople in the Somali town of Beletweyne whose lives were ruined by twin explosions in the market on 3 October that destroyed or gutted numerous shops.
He was able to salvage some clothing and stored them in his house until he could figure out what to do next. However, just two days after the blasts, a power surge burned down the two-roomed house where his family of 12 were living.
“We were desperately trying to put out the fire although it wasn’t possible. It was around the evening, and everything got burned. There is nothing that we salvaged,” Ahmed told Radio Ergo.
Ahmed lost all his property in 48 hours. He used to spend $250 on his family’s needs including his four older children’s education. He had $8,000 in his shop, including $3,000 that he had taken on credit intending to pay off from sales.
They are temporarily being hosted by neighbours who gave them a week to get somewhere else to stay. He goes to the market every day looking for employment.
“You can understand what happened to us. Someone that had a house and a shop and lost both in a short while. That was our fate, and we can’t do anything about it,” he moaned.
Farhiya Mohamed Warsame, a businesswoman running a henna salon, has been taking food on credit from her relatives since the attacks that were claimed by Al-Shabab. The income from the salon used to support her family comfortably and kept her five children and three nieces in school.
“That was our only source of income. I learned about henna art when I was young. I lost everything I had in one day!” said Farhiyo.
Eight months before, Farhiyo closed down her salon in Garowe and moved to Beledweyne hoping to get better income. She invested $9,000 in the new shop that was turned to ashes.
“I stay at home now. Every time I come here I feel sad to my stomach. The people who have got savings are rebuilding their property, but I don’t have anything, I pray to God,” said Farhiyo, interviewed amid the wreck of her shop.
“I was in the shop when the first explosion happened. I forgot everything including my phone, then the second explosion happened, and I got buried under mirrors and chairs. I was at home for two days feeling nausea.”
Businessman Bashir Hussein Sebriye lost electrical appliances and other goods worth $25,000 in his shop.
“I was supporting my family from this business and now I don’t have anything. The books are the only thing that were not affected much, but everything else including the computers, printers and school whiteboards were all ruined,” said Bashir.
He and his family are now lucky to get $200 a month sent by his brother in America.
