Drought forces hundreds to migrate the urban centres

Hundreds of people have moved to the major towns in Somalia following prolonged dry spell that has resulted the nomads to lost nearly all their livestock.

According to United Nation, an estimated five million Somalis are in need of food aid after sparse rains triggered drought in much of the country.

Severe water shortages have been the trend for the last few months as water sources in remote areas have dried up and people now fear for the loss of human life due to the escalating drought.

Shariif Adan Boorow, the head of IDP Resettlement Committee said severe drought that hit many parts of Somalia have led the rise of rural-urban migration.

” Hundreds of people migrated from Baay and Lower Shabelle have come to Elasha-Biyaha locality. These people were forced to migrate to the towns after hundreds of their livestock have already died owing to current situation,” said Boorow.

He said water pumps in the county-sides had dried up leading the migration of the people.

Boorow has appealed to the government to provide these IDPs relief food.

“The situation is critical. Children are at a greater risk of malnutrition because they do not get enough food,” he said.

Locals who spoke to the media told of the of their sufferings as most of them are forced to trek more than 50km to reach the town. Some have built make-shift huts camps in Elasha-Biyaha area.