Please refer to the attached file.
Brief Summary
Calls about continuing drought dominated this week’s batch of feedback (9-15 March 2026) to Radio Ergo’s nationwide call-in platform, alongside a lesser number of callers reporting rainfall mainly in central and across scattered southern locations. Callers in some locations noted that the rainfall was less than expected or inconsistent. Farmers in several southern regions complained of crop failure and loss of livestock due to the drought. Drought calls from Lower Shabelle region this week were prominent. Two callers in Beletweyne, however, reported the sudden rise in river water levels despite the lack of rainfall. On other topics, several callers complained about the rejection of the Somali shilling by traders in favour of mobile money payments. Females accounted for about one third of the callers, speaking on topics including drought and rainfall, floods, health and mental health, livestock, IDPs, and one mother in Dollow reporting her young son as a missing person.
The following summarises the overall calls by theme.
Floods – a male caller in Beletweyne passed on information that the river Shabelle had flooded causing a child to be carried away in the water. (Radio Ergo newsroom is investigating reports of several children drowning as they were playing in the river bed when the waters suddenly rose.) A female caller said that whilst they now had water in the river, they still needed rainfall especially as the temperatures were so high.
IDPs – a female caller in Daryel camp in Adado said people in the camp in Galgadud region were facing hardship and appealing for help.
Health – a caller in Hargeisa complained about widespread disease, adding that they needed medicines and bed nets to protect them from the mosquitoes.
Mental health – three female callers engaged with the ‘Mind’ weekly programme on mental health asking questions to the experts about self-talk, dizziness, anxiety, and forgetfulness.
FGM – a male caller in Mogadishu commented that cases of FGM were decreasing among girls as other (‘religious’) methods were becoming popular.
Currency – several callers in M. Shabelle and Bay regions weighed in about the need for the Somali shilling notes to be accepted in the market and not rejected in favour of the use of mobile money alone. One of the callers in Baidoa said low-income people such as shoe-shiners and beggars relied on the notes from customers or supporters.
Livestock – women callers to the Radio Vet programme predominated this week with questions about goat diseases with flu-like symptoms in Galgadud and Hiran. A chicken farmer called several times from Biyo-ade, M. Shabelle, wanting to know how to treat his chickens that had symptoms of suffocation before dying. Another caller in Dollow, Gedo, wanted treatment for his cows suffering what he called Madobaad disease.
Agriculture – a farmer in Bardera, Gedo, said they were struggling to get fuel for the generators for their water pumps and needed help with fuel.
Rainfall – in Sanag region, callers in Armale and Hingalol said they had received rainfall that was helping their recovery. However, in Armale a caller cited clan conflicts affecting people, and a woman in Hingalol said despite the rain their livestock were still weak and sick. Callers in several parts of Galmudug cited rain. However, a woman in Adado said the downpours were scanty and only fell in scattered areas, with drought prevailing in much of the region. Among a few callers from parts of M. Shabelle, one in Balad said the rain was little and people were migrating in search of better rainfall. He said they were praying for more rainfall that would be sufficient to help recovery of the vulnerable families. In Bay, a caller from a village about 7 kilometres from Baidoa said they had rainfall and their livestock were recovering from the drought. Several called about rainfall in parts of Gedo, and Lower Juba including Kismayo.
Drought and impact – in Somaliland, a female caller in an unspecified location said they were grappling with drought and food shortage, their livestock were dying due to water shortage, and they needed aid. Two callers in Togdher, including one in Qoryalle, said the drought conditions were continuing to affect them despite rain falling in some other areas. In Mudug, a female caller in Harardhere said their livestock were dying and they hadn’t had any rain. Among several from Adado, three female callers said they were facing severe drought with livestock dying and no aid. They asked for their voices to be shared for response from aid organisations. A caller in Biyo-Gadud said the rains had failed and there was intense heat and livestock were dying of water shortage. A caller in Astur complained of drought and water shortage in the area, as well as a lack of health facilities. He said people wanted response from the federal and Galmudug governments. Two callers from Beletweyne said farms and livestock were affected by the lack of rain. Among several callers from Middle Shabelle, a woman said they were facing food and water shortages after their farms had failed. A caller in Raga-elle said livestock were dying.
Among many callers from Lower Shabelle, especially Kuntawarey and Wanleweyn districts, farmers said they had planted and their crops had failed. A female caller said they needed aid due to the drought and that their children were all sick. Several callers from Baidoa and Bardale in Bay region said drought conditions continued without any rainfall, livestock were dying, and they needed aid.
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