(ERGO) – A violent interclan conflict arising from a land dispute in southern Somalia’s Bay region has driven dozens of families off their farms and into internal displacement camps near the town of Baidoa.
Deran Aftin Ishaq and her family of 10 are among hundreds who have been arriving in camps in Baidoa over the past four weeks, including farmers, small traders, and herders.
Deran told Radio Ergo’s local reporter that they had walked for five days to find safety after escaping their village of Balanbale.
They depended on their four-hectare farm in Balanbale, where they grew sesame, millet, and tomatoes for a living.
However, everything was destroyed during the conflict, she said, estimating the total losses of their home, farming equipment, and crops at around $2,320.
Nov living in Buur-Eyle IDP camp on the outskirts of Baidoa, they have no proper shelter nor access to the basics including enough food and water.
“Sometimes we don’t even have tea in the morning. We can’t cook anything. People who have food don’t go hungry. My farm used to sustain us – we grew tomatoes, beans, and other crops to support us. Now I can’t even afford to buy the basic necessities. Hunger is overwhelming, and the drought adds to our suffering,” Deran said.
Having separated from her husband, Deran raises 10 children, the youngest of whom is two years old, alone.
She said she had been looking for casual work in the area, but without much success. Sometimes she had barely enough food to scrape together a meal for her family and had to depend on whatever food donations their neighbours in the camp could spare for them.
Three of her children had been in Koranic school in their home village but here they have no access to education, nor could she afford any fees.
This camp has seen an influx of new arrivals, with many children and women fleeing the ongoing conflict and drought in their areas.
Hawo Mohamed Ali, a widow with 11 children, fled Madowey village in Bay region in October as the clan conflict erupted.
She owned a small shop selling daily goods that made her $4-5 a day. It was enough to feed her children three meals, but now they are reduced to surviving on very little food given by neighbours.
Hawo had a five-hectare farm in Madowey, where she grew beans, millet, vegetables, and tomatoes. She and her children fled for their lives, unable to carry their belongings.
Hawo’s husband had been ill for a long time and died in September – shortly before the outbreak of conflict. His death, combined with the conflict and chaos, has left her burdened with emotional and financial strain.
They are living now in a flimsy shack that provides little shelter or comfort. They also have debts from the community that Hawo is worried about repaying, as she has not received any help.
“The impact of the conflict has been devastating for my family. We fled with nothing but the clothes on our backs. Our homes, businesses and crops were all destroyed. Now we rely on the kindness of others, but even that is not enough. We have no shelter, no food or protection,” she complained.
The chairman of Buur-Eyle IDP camp, Mohamed Abdirahman Salah, said newly displaced families from the ongoing conflict continued to arrive every day. He mentioned that the only food supplies they received were collected from other IDP families and neighbours and lasted only three to four days.
He appealed to humanitarian organisations and the local authorities to assist the families, as the situation continued to worsen.
“The camp is overcrowded, and we don’t have enough shelter. We are all sharing one toilet, which is not enough for the number of people living here. The health risks are high and we are living in constant fear of diseases spreading. There is no access to education for our children either and healthcare is scarce. We need urgent help,” said the camp leader.
