SOMALIA: Livestock lifeline for Puntland IDPs

Photo: IRIN

An IDP settlement: An aid agency has begun a re-stocking programme in the town of Galkayo in efforts to help hundreds of drought-displaced families recover their livelihoods (file photo)

NAIROBI, 13 October 2009 (IRIN) - In a bid to help hundreds of drought-displaced families recover their livelihoods, an aid agency has begun a re-stocking programme in the town of Galkayo, in the self-declared autonomous region of Puntland, northeastern Somalia, with each family receiving some animals.

“Some 900 families in Tawakal [IDP] camp have received three goats each; it is the first time that anyone has given us anything other than a few kilos of maize," said Hawo Goni, a community leader in the camp.

She said three goats did not seem a lot “but for us it is a good beginning as, in the long run, it will free us from waiting for maize handouts".

Muhubo Mahamud, another IDP who was given three goats, told IRIN she had lost 50 goats and sheep to the drought.

"I know it is too early to think about rebuilding my livestock but this gives me hope," Mahamud said, adding that there were many drought-displaced people who would like to go back home if given the chance. "If I have enough livestock I will go back."

She said most of the IDPs in the town were idle; "they become a burden to others or simply sit in camps hoping that someone will feed their children".

In the short term, Mahamud said, "We can sell the extra milk and when we have more [goats], we can even eat the meat."

The project, run by a California-based NGO, Relief International, has so far benefited 900 families and is expected to help another 1,150 families in the next stage, according to an official, who did want to be named because he was not authorized to speak to the media.

"In the next two weeks, we expect to give US$250 to 350 families [2,100 people] who have been identified by the displaced themselves as business-oriented, to start small businesses or improve their trading."

He said another 800 displaced families [4,800 people] would receive six chickens each.

The idea behind the project is to integrate the displaced into the host community, with the beneficiaries being divided into two groups - IDPs from the south of the Somalia and those displaced by the drought.

"Our estimate is that 80 percent are from the south and 20 percent are drought-displaced," the official said, adding that this was a pilot project "and if it succeeds we hope to expand to other areas".

Bashir Mire, the deputy governor of Mudug region, welcomed the move, saying it "gives some measure of freedom to the displaced. This is the first time that an aid agency has tried something different other than just giving food; this project will, in the long run, make most of these people self-sufficient."

He said that if more animals were given to displaced families many would return to their home areas and remove a burden from many urban centres.

"We are cooperating with the agency and will encourage others to join it."

ah/mw