(ERGO) – Around 300 families who lost their property in a fire in Mogadishu’s main Bakara market in January are struggling to make ends meet.
Hassan Mohamud Ali, 28, a tailor, used to make $20 a day from his business in the market, which provided a decent living for his family of six children.
Now, he is at home in despair as he is unable to pay the bills. For the past week he has been depending on his relatives in Mogadishu for food, but those handouts are quickly running out.
“My biggest worry now is how I can take care of my family’s needs. Really, all my property was burned. I have nothing left!” he told Radio Ergo.
He was told about the fire whilst at home on the night of 21 January. Nothing in his shop survived the blaze and he estimates his losses at $11,000, including seven sewing machines and many items of clothing.
He started out 10 years ago with just one small sewing machine that he rented out. His business had grown and reached a good point, with seven employees.
Hassan said he is unable to pay the $50 fees for four of his six children who were attending Omar Primary school in Heliwaa.
As well as shop owners, the fire affected the lives of about 50 employees earning a living providing various services in the market.
Shire Kamil Mire, 34, was working in a clothing shop earning $10 a day. He has not found another job since the fire. He and his family of four have cut down on their spending, eating just one meal a day.
“Whenever I left work, I would bring something home for my children, it’s not good for a father to go home empty handed. It has really affected me mentally,” he noted.
Businesses may not reopen soon and Shire fears that he will not be able to pay his rent of $80, risking that the family will be evicted from their house.
The chairman of Bakara business committee, Salah Abdullahi Ali, said the fire destroyed enormous amount of property and people’s assets. Among the businesses were jewellery stores.
“This was a true disaster here, about $2.5 million worth of property has burned down. All those people are now unemployed. The business owners and the employees are both out of work,” he said.
He said there have been some local efforts to give food and aid to the victims of the fire, which is believed to have been caused by an electrical fault.
Bakara is the largest open market in Mogadishu. The last major fire there was in January 2019.
