(ERGO) – Zeynab Abdullahi Hussein was turned away from her labouring work on a small farm on the outskirts of Baidoa in southern Somalia in January, due to the prolonged drought and hot weather.
She is one of hundreds who normally get paid for farm work, ploughing, harvesting, and watering the fields.
The lack of rain has made the land in the area unproductive, forcing her out of work and leaving her family in dire straits.
“My children and I are in a terrible situation. We have no work, no water, and no place to borrow from. I am very disappointed. When you have nothing, no one helps you. My children sleep hungry most nights,” said Zeynab.
Zeynab, a divorced mother raising her five children alone, now relies on neighbours for one meal a day. She travels to Baidoa every morning seeking cleaning work but often returns empty-handed and exhausted.
“I earned 100,000 Somali shillings a day from the farm, which was enough for us. Now, unemployment has forced me to beg for cooked food from people in the camp and Baidoa town,” she complained.
The Al-Mahbuub displacement camp, where Zeynab lives, lacks a well. She draws water from a private well 30 minutes away, paying 4,000 shillings for a 20-litre container, which is insufficient for her family. On days she can’t afford it, she begs the well owner for some water.
Zeynab and her children live in a hut made of cloth and wood, offering little shelter from the sun or cold. Unemployment has also led to her son being expelled from school due to unpaid fees.
Ibrahim Adan Mursal, a father of seven, faces similar struggles. He lost his job at a farm in southern Baidoa last December, leaving his family without food or water.
“Since I became unemployed, I have been constantly worried. There is no breakfast, lunch, or dinner in my house. My wife and I have no jobs, and our children are hungry,” he told Radio Ergo.
Ibrahim earned between $4 and $6 a day, which provided three meals. Now, he relies on help from relatives and friends, but the situation is dire.
“I don’t know how to provide for my family,” he admitted. “I have looked for many jobs, but there is unemployment in the city, and no farm work is available.”
The lack of rain in Bay region has led to water shortages and crop failures, leaving labourers like Ibrahim and Zeynab without income. The drought coupled with conflict have displaced many families, forcing them into camps where conditions are harsh.
Abdullahi Abdi Adan, who worked as a farm guard, also lost his job due to the farm’s poor condition and the owners’ lack of funds. He earned $6 a day, which was enough for his family of ten.
“The biggest burden I have right now is having five children who were attending school, but I had to let them drop out because I couldn’t pay the fees. I owe $150 to a local shop, and I can’t afford to repay it,” he said.
Abdullahi’s family was displaced from Jimaale village in Bakool region three years ago due to conflict. They now struggle to find food and water, relying only on the kindness of others.
The situation in Baidoa and surrounding areas remains critical, with many families facing hunger and uncertainty due to prolonged drought and conflict and lack of jobs.
