Please refer to the attached file.
Brief Summary
Calls to Radio Ergo’s audience feedback platform in the week 16-22 July 2026 indicated that communities in many parts of the country are continuing to struggle with hardships resulting from prolonged drought and livelihood losses, whilst others are benefiting from recent rainfall and improved conditions in certain regions. Drought and water shortage seemed particularly prominent in northern and central parts. Many livestock owners across the regions contacted the radio wanting veterinary help with diseases affecting goats especially, as well as sheep and camels. The following summarises the calls by theme.
Floods – a caller in Raga-elle, Middle Shabelle region, asked for help saying farmers had been hit by floods and their farms were submerged in the river water.
Food Security – a caller in Jazira village, Lower Shabelle region, said people were doing well, and farmers’ maize and beans had ripened for harvest. Their livestock were also doing well. On the other hand, a caller in Daadmareen, Togdher region, said his herd of more than 500 goats had been reduced to 150 following prolonged drought and failed rainy seasons. A caller in Karkar, Bari region, said that high inflation in the area had affected people and they felt neglected by the Puntland government. He asked for his message to be shared with aid groups so they could get help.
IDPs – a caller in Abudwak, Galgadud region, said he had lost all his goats to drought and they had moved to live in the IDP camps. He added an appeal for aid to reach them there.
Aid – a caller in Baidoa, Bay region, said they witnessed people selling and buying nutritional supplements on a daily basis. As these are supposed to be free, he said he wanted the aid organisations to respond to the problem. Meanwhile, a caller in Guriel, Galgadud, said there were cases of malnutrition in the area and they needed to access nutritional supplements and other help.
Livestock – Goats suffering symptoms including diarrhoea was a common complaint among callers from various regions to the Radio Vet programme. Several callers mentioned foot and mouth disease, whilst others noted CCPP and ‘qanje’ disease. A caller in Abudwak, Galgadud region, said their sheep were writhing in agony with an unknown disease that herders didn’t know how to treat. A caller in Dhahar, Sanag region, said they noticed stomach worms after slaughtering their camels and wanted treatment advice. Another caller said 10 of his camels were sick with fever and he was unable to take them to the valleys or water areas to graze. He wanted treatment advice.
Agriculture – farmers in different regions reported challenges in controlling various crop pests. Among them, one caller in Abudwak noted dark insects affecting his lemon trees, whilst another caller in Jowhar saw dark aphids on his crops and wanted control tips. Meanwhile, a caller in Hirshabelle said people living near the river banks were in fear of hippopotamus attacks. He added that they had encountered hippos on the banks for four nights in a row and narrowly escaped being attacked.
Environment – a caller in Dhahar, Sanag region, wanted information from experts on the radio’s environmental programme on restoring vegetation that had been cleared in the rural areas. He asked how they could get Acacia trees and others to replace those that had been cut down.
Drought and impact – in the north, a caller in Ainabo said the drought there was severe. He said drought had affected the whole of Somaliland, and his region especially. Callers in Togdher, including Bali-nasiye, said they hadn’t had much rain and the drought was back with windy conditions. A caller in Dhagahya-ade, Sool region, said they hadn’t had rainfall recently and needed aid due to the drought conditions. Another caller in Puntland said they were grappling with drought that had spanned over two years. They needed help. Among many callers from parts of Galgadud, several in Abudwak cited drought, failed rains, livestock diseases and hardships. A caller in Dalsan said their livestock continued to die of drought and disease, and they hadn’t had rainfall recently. In Hiran region, callers in Burweyn and El-gal said their livestock lacked fodder and water and people needed aid. A female caller who did not state her location said they were facing drought, water shortage and insecurity. She added that she personally had $500 in debt to pay off and that life was difficult. She said they needed humanitarian aid.
Rainfall – callers reported rain and generally good conditions from scattered parts of Sanag, Hirshabelle, Bay, and a few other areas. A female caller in Bir-hamar, Sanag, expressed thanks for rainfall and peace in the area. Another in Raga-elle., M. Shabelle, said they had rainfall, water in their farms, and peace to continue farming. Several in parts of Bay region said they were doing well with the rain. A caller in Jire, Bakool region, gave thanks for rainfall, healthy crops, and their donkeys giving birth.