Clan Battles over resources force Hundreds to flee in Galgadud Region…

Hundreds of families have been forced to abandon their homes, property and jobs in Herale district in central Somalia’s Galgadud region where clan conflict over resources has caused chaos, Most of these families are pastoralists, who left behind their livestock and small businesses as they fled from the villages of Jabsiile, Qalanqale, and Landher, seeking refuge in the village of Mirjiley…

Deqo Mohamed Ibrahim eventually reached Mirjiley on 22 September after her family walked for 12 hours because they couldn’t afford transport. They left behind their house, belongings they couldn’t carry, and the 10 goats they relied on for food, “When the fighting broke out, it was unexpected. We were just lying down early in the morning when the gunfire erupted. The intensity was so overwhelming that we couldn’t even figure out where to run,” Deqo recalled.

Her husband worked on construction sites to supplement their income. In Mirjiley, empty handed, they are forced to ask neighbours to share them what little that can spare. There’s no food at home. Whatever we eat for the day is given to us by a local family, sometimes cooked, sometimes raw. We don’t have a reliable source. When someone gives us a few kilograms of food, we use it sparingly. On a good day, we cook only once in the evening, which is difficult especially for the children,” Deqo said.

More than 700 families have arrived in Mirjiley, running away from the battles between clans raging around their homes. All are relying now on other locals who live from pastoralism, The recent violence, sparked by disputes over grazing land, caught the area off guard during a dry season when resources were already limited.