(ERGO) – Uncontrolled banditry near Marka, in southern Somalia’s Lower Shabelle region, is terrorising women living in internal displacement camps in the area and preventing them from going out to work for their families.
Displaced mother of nine, Asmo Sharif Hussein, has been unable to go out to collect firewood for sale since mid-November. She has suffered two attacks by gangs of men armed with knives and machetes on the route between the camps and the town.
“Twice my phone was taken from me. The money I earned and brought back home was stolen twice as well. If you scream, no one will hear you. The area is deserted with only bushes. I haven’t gone to the market for a whole month, I’m just forced to stay at home. My situation is terrible,” Asmo told Radio Ergo’s local reporter.
Asmo lives in Osman Qule camp, seven kilometres from Marka, in a remote undeveloped forested area with no vehicle access.
She used to travel to Marka every other day to collect firewood, earning three dollars from sales per trip. This income was her family’s lifeline but she has stopped due to fear.
“The thieves take away food and money, severely affecting our ability to sustain ourselves, my family’s situation is now desperate. We only eat once a day. I’ve been living in this camp for six years, and as you can see, life hasn’t improved. Even water here is purchased, and I can’t afford it. I have no work, and there’s no hope from this camp either,” she complained.
“The thieves specifically target women. They don’t want men or large groups of women, just three or four at a time. They rob us of whatever we have. Even in the evening, people avoid going out for fear of these thieves.”
Asmo considered organising other women in the camp to travel together for their safety, but as they go out to work in different locations, she hasn’t been able to manage to make such a plan.
Women in other camps near Marka, including Bulo Samow, Bulo Maclin, and Awyaale, have also suffered from numerous attacks by the gangs, who are said to be intoxicated and brutal.
Ruqiyo Ali Farah used to work daily on farms in Janale. Radio Ergo’s reporter found her just sitting under a tree outside her makeshift home in Bulo Samow camp because she is unable to go out work due to fear. As the sole provider for her seven children, she feels desperate.
“My situation is as you see it. I am not well off. We eat only once a day. I have seven children, and their father has passed away. Even water is unaffordable. Our shelter is poor; we don’t even have plastic sheets to cover us during the rainy season. My children rely on me alone as their mother and father,” she said.
Ruqiyo struggles with the high cost of water, which is sold at 2,000 Somali shillings per container. Their shelter, made of sticks and pieces of cloth, is deteriorating and cannot protect them from rain. She worries about her children’s future.
“I used to travel to Janale farms every morning to gather firewood and earn $3.5, which was enough to feed my family two meals. Now I can’t go there anymore because of the thieves. They carry knives and machetes, rob you of your earnings, and even attempt to assault you.”
Ruqiyo was displaced from her four-hectare farm in Busley-Daud village in 2019 following violent clashes between Al-Shabaab and government forces and came to the camps in Marka for safety.
One of the elders in Awyale camp, Abdi Abukar Hashi, said they had become helpless in the face of the banditry scourge. Abdi’s wife used to work in Marka’s markets, washing clothes for $3 per day, but she stopped after being attacked and robbed several times.
Their family of nine children is living now on a single meal made from donations of maize flour Abdi receives as a farm guard in Janale.
Despite reporting the thefts to Marka’s administration, no action has been taken to curb the violent gangs.
“Thieves take everything from us, leaving our children starving. Women cry because of the constant ambushes. We’ve informed the authorities several times, but they only search for the thieves and never find them,” Abdi said.
He said they are calling on the authorities to take action to prevent the displaced families slide into further poverty.
