Heavy rains spark worries among IDPs in Mogadishu

Heavy rains on Wednesday night and Saturday nights in Mogadishu have sparked worries among internally displaced persons (IDPs) that heavier downpours could worsen their misery.

Halima Omar, a coordinator in one of the camps in Badbaado in Mogadishu’s Dharkeynley district said displaced families living in this camp are concerned that the temporary shelters that accommodate them might not be enough to protect against the falling rain.

“So far, rains have not been really heavy so no real damage has been done in the IDP camps though we had non-stop rains for hours last night,” said Omar.

She added “But in the event that heavy rain starts to fall as expected the consequences will be dire for the IDPs because most of the displaced families are not housed in suitable refugee camps that can protect them from these rains, making their situation even worse.”

Most of Mogadishu’s IDP camp population lives in huts made of cardboard and sticks that provide little protection from the cold and heavy rain.

Farhiya Mohamed, a mother of four, who lives at a Camp in near Ex-control told Goobjoog News that she and other internally displaced people are in dire need of stronger material for their shelters.

“Rain is God’s gift, which could be of some comfort to farmers and herders, but for IDPs who live in the camps of Mogadishu, it brings nothing but more problems and makes their situation even worse, unless they get urgent humanitarian assistance,” said Mohamed.

Mohamed, another IDP said: “We were already desperate and the rains have made our situation worse. We need all the help we can get now.”

IDP camps often bear brunt of seasonal rains as floods sweep their homes away and at times kill their children.