{"id":3288,"date":"2019-07-12T07:25:20","date_gmt":"2019-07-12T07:25:20","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/sooha.org\/en\/?p=3288"},"modified":"2019-07-14T07:54:04","modified_gmt":"2019-07-14T07:54:04","slug":"displaced-and-disabled-how-families-struggle-for-a-dignified-existence-in-idp-camps-in-somalia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sooha.org\/en\/2019\/07\/12\/displaced-and-disabled-how-families-struggle-for-a-dignified-existence-in-idp-camps-in-somalia\/","title":{"rendered":"Displaced and disabled \u2013 how families struggle for a dignified existence in IDP camps in Somalia"},"content":{"rendered":"

BELEDWEYNE (SoOHA) –<\/strong> Bedridden and poor, 55\u2013year\u2013old Ahmed\u00a0Farah\u00a0Gedi\u00a0embodies\u00a0the\u00a0hardships faced by disabled people and their families living in IDP camps in Somalia. In this part of our series, Radio Ergo visits Kulmiye camp\u00a0in\u00a0Beledwyene,\u00a0Hiran\u00a0region.<\/p>\n

Ahmed Farah\u00a0<\/span>Gedi<\/span>, 55, is one of the people living with disabilities in Kul<\/span>miye camp,\u00a0<\/span>Beledweyne<\/span>. He was\u00a0<\/span>previously a proud p<\/span>rovider for his family but\u00a0<\/span>for\u00a0<\/span>the past<\/span>\u00a0one<\/span>year<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0half of his body\u00a0<\/span>has been\u00a0<\/span>paralysed<\/span>. He and his family now depend on food handouts they get from their neighbo<\/span>u<\/span>rs in the camp.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI no\u00a0<\/span>longer have the ability to work and<\/span>\u00a0I ha<\/span>ve been reduced to a beggar<\/span>. I previously used my physi<\/span>cal abilities to earn a living.\u00a0<\/span>I only use my eyes now<\/span>\u00a0but<\/span>\u00a0my legs are paraly<\/span>s<\/span>ed,<\/span>\u201d Ahmed told Radio Ergo.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c<\/span>I used to go wherever I wanted<\/span>,<\/span>\u201d\u00a0<\/span>he added,\u00a0<\/span>vividly recall<\/span>ing<\/span>\u00a0his healthy days.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Ahmed was woke<\/span>n<\/span>\u00a0up\u00a0<\/span>by<\/span>\u00a0sharp pains in his body late\u00a0<\/span>one<\/span>\u00a0night.\u00a0<\/span>The pain was unbearable and left him<\/span>\u00a0briefly<\/span>\u00a0unconscious<\/span>. His<\/span>\u00a0fa<\/span>mily and neighbo<\/span>u<\/span>rs rushed him to<\/span>Beledweyne<\/span>\u00a0general hospital. The doctors told him that the paralysis was caused by high blood pressure and\u00a0<\/span>had damaged\u00a0<\/span>the nervous system. However, he was not told if the paralysis was permanent or could be cured.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Ahmed is a father of six with\u00a0<\/span>an<\/span>\u00a0eldest son ag<\/span>ed nine. His wife<\/span>\u00a0has been occupied with giving extra\u00a0<\/span>care<\/span>\u00a0and support to her bed<\/span>ridden husband and her children<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0leaving no one to\u00a0<\/span>earn a living<\/span>\u00a0for the family.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

He<\/span>\u00a0used\u00a0<\/span>to\u00a0<\/span>hawk<\/span>\u00a0bread and pastries in the city,\u00a0<\/span>while his wife owned a small stall\u00a0<\/span>selling<\/span>small items<\/span>. T<\/span>he two stream<\/span>s<\/span>\u00a0of income\u00a0<\/span>used to\u00a0<\/span>support the<\/span>m fairly comfortably<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAlthough it was not easy, I\u00a0<\/span>used to have<\/span>\u00a0a better life<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0I never used to depend on aid handouts from the people or aid organi<\/span>s<\/span>ations,<\/span>\u201d said Ahmed.<\/span>\u00a0\u201c<\/span>I was an agro-pastoralist before I was displaced<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0I had my livestock and I work<\/span>ed<\/span>\u00a0on my farm. I was depend<\/span>ent<\/span>on my physical abilities.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Ahmed\u2019s family live in\u00a0<\/span>a\u00a0<\/span>small hut covered with pi<\/span>eces of cloths, which cannot shelter them from rain<\/span>\u00a0although they get cover from\u00a0<\/span>the\u00a0<\/span>sun and cold at night.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Prolonged drought in the\u00a0<\/span>region\u00a0<\/span>wiped<\/span>\u00a0out all\u00a0<\/span>the family\u2019s<\/span>\u00a0livestock three years ago and\u00a0<\/span>they were<\/span>\u00a0forced to migrate f<\/span>rom Nur-<\/span>Fanah<\/span>\u00a0village<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a055 km<\/span>\u00a0from\u00a0<\/span>Beledweyne<\/span>, towards the town<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

There are many IDPs in\u00a0<\/span>Beled<\/span>weyne<\/span>\u00a0living with disabilities.\u00a0<\/span>Barwaqo<\/span>\u00a0camp does not have a health cent<\/span>re to\u00a0<\/span>provide the\u00a0<\/span>much needed health services.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Saido<\/span>\u00a0Burale<\/span>\u00a0Guled\u2019s<\/span>\u00a0husband sustained injuries\u00a0<\/span>to<\/span>\u00a0his spinal cord.<\/span>\u00a0She<\/span>\u00a0told Radio Ergo that the burden of feeding\u00a0<\/span>their<\/span>\u00a010 children has\u00a0<\/span>f<\/span>allen<\/span>\u00a0wholly\u00a0<\/span>on<\/span>\u00a0her.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0She gets up e<\/span>arly and goes out to find<\/span>\u00a0jobs cooking for city\u00a0<\/span>families.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Saido<\/span>\u2019s<\/span>\u00a0husb<\/span>and has never been taken to\u00a0<\/span>hosp<\/span>ital\u00a0<\/span>and their relatives<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0who are farmers<\/span>, do\u00a0<\/span>not<\/span>\u00a0have the capacity to help. They are\u00a0<\/span>all\u00a0<\/span>facing poor harvests and water s<\/span>carcity<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe have<\/span>\u00a0not taken him to hospital<\/span>. We can only take him somewhere if we have money, you know? We don\u2019t have money, his relatives are destitute, the farms have not produced much, and sometimes even the children can\u2019t get food<\/span>,<\/span>\u201d<\/span>\u00a0Saido<\/span>\u00a0told Radio Ergo.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Saido<\/span>\u2019s<\/span>\u00a0family was<\/span>\u00a0displaced by conflict<\/span>\u00a0in<\/span>\u00a0Mogadishu several years ago<\/span>. Her<\/span>\u00a0husband\u00a0<\/span>then was working<\/span>\u00a0as a porter\u00a0<\/span>with a handcart<\/span>. Her children\u00a0<\/span>are not being educated<\/span>\u00a0as<\/span>there are no fre<\/span>e<\/span>\u00a0schools<\/span>\u00a0in the camp and she can<\/span>not\u00a0<\/span>afford to pay\u00a0<\/span>fees at the private schools.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Kulmiye is a sprawling camp<\/span>, set up in 2015,<\/span>\u00a0host<\/span>ing<\/span>\u00a0more than 200\u00a0<\/span>families hit by drought and conflict in the south.\u00a0<\/span>T<\/span>here are no water we<\/span>lls or other free water sources and<\/span>\u00a0people fetch water from the river.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0Only those earning something can afford to buy water.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe beg around for water in the neighbo<\/span>urhood. A<\/span>fter knocking on\u00a0<\/span>five or\u00a0<\/span>10 doors, you\u00a0<\/span>might<\/span>\u00a0be lucky to get one who is helpful enough to help you get water. You will get\u00a0<\/span>two<\/span>jerry cans<\/span>\u00a0but<\/span>\u00a0you can see they are\u00a0<\/span>not\u00a0<\/span>enthusiastic\u00a0<\/span>about<\/span>\u00a0giving.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Now you don\u2019t know if you should give the water to children for drinking, or use it to cook or wash clothes,\u201d<\/span>\u00a0Saido<\/span>\u00a0said.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The<\/span>re are no flows of\u00a0<\/span>aid in this camp and there are no health, education\u00a0<\/span>or\u00a0<\/span>water s<\/span>ervices.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Source: Radio Ergo<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

BELEDWEYNE (SoOHA) – Bedridden and poor, 55\u2013year\u2013old Ahmed\u00a0Farah\u00a0Gedi\u00a0embodies\u00a0the\u00a0hardships faced by disabled people and their families living in IDP camps in Somalia. In this part of our series, Radio Ergo visits Kulmiye camp\u00a0in\u00a0Beledwyene,\u00a0Hiran\u00a0region. Ahmed Farah\u00a0Gedi, 55, is one of the people living with disabilities in Kulmiye camp,\u00a0Beledweyne. He was\u00a0previously a proud provider for his family but\u00a0for\u00a0the …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2349,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[11,23,1,5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3288","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","","category-cccm-cluster","category-displacement-and-asylum","category-news","category-shelter-nfis-cluster"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sooha.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3288","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sooha.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sooha.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sooha.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sooha.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3288"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/sooha.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3288\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3290,"href":"https:\/\/sooha.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3288\/revisions\/3290"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sooha.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2349"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sooha.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3288"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sooha.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3288"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sooha.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3288"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}