PLATFORMS

DADAAB (SoOHA) – A group of 50 Somali women refugees producing traditional handicrafts in the Dadaab refugee camps in northeastern Kenya is becoming self-reliant through the promotion of Somali culture. The group, called Yote Farsamo (meaning ‘all technical’ in a mix of Swahili and Somali), are weaving traditional mats, baskets, hats, fans, …

KISMAYO (SoOHA) – A youth-run soap factory, the first of its kind, opened this month in Kismayo’s Midnimo neighbourhood giving some longed-for job opportunities to IDPs, refugee returnees, and local youth. Wanaag soap factory opened on 19 August by five youth, with financial support from Qatari Silatech agency in cooperation …

HARGEISA (SoOHA) – Marodijeh governor, Ahmed Jam’a, told Radio Ergo that heavy rains caused the deaths of three people and injured 18 others on Tuesday 27 August. The three died when a concrete electricity pole fell onto a wall causing it to collapse on top of them, near Amana boarding …

JOWHAR (SoOHA) – Residents of Jowar-bile suburb in the southern Somali town of Jowhar have been accessing free medical services for the last eight months thanks to an initiative by young medical graduates in the town. Thirteen doctors have joined hands to set up Hantiwadag mother and child health care …

MOGADISHU (SoOHA) – Radio Ergo’s IDP Camp series this week looks at the threat of rape and sexual violence facing women living in the camps, who are forced to take casual domestic jobs such as washing clothes to earn a living. Our local reporter met two women in a camp in Mogadishu who shared their stories …

TORONTO (SoOHA) – Canada Border Services Agency has suspended the imminent deportation of a former child refugee and fosters child to Somalia at the request of the United Nations. Abdilahi Elmi, 34, arrived in Toronto in 1995 after fleeing Somalia and living in a refugee camp. He and his mother …

MOGADISHU (SoOHA) – Sahro Adan Mohamed, 44, can now use her mobile phone, search for names in her phone contacts, and read SMS texts without any help. For as long as she can remember, Sahro has relied on her children to help her use her phone, but now she feels …

BOSSASO (SoOHA) – As part of an ongoing series on IDP camps in Somalia, Radio Ergo’s local reporter in Bossaso visited a camp where cash assistance is making a big difference to families using it to invest in business and education. Halima Bile Ali is working hard to move her family out of …

MOGADISHU (SoOHA) – Up to one million people in Somalia will receive lifesaving food and clean water to help stop starvation and malnutrition thanks to new UK funding announced today. Minister for Africa Andrew Stephenson has announced that UK aid will provide extra food, water, and medicine to help vulnerable …

NEW YORK (SoOHA) – Every year on World Humanitarian Day, people across the globe rally support for humanitarian aid workers who dedicate their lives to helping the most vulnerable. It marks the day in 2003, when the United Nations headquarters in Baghdad, Iraq, was attacked by terrorists, killing 22 people, including …