Now our children are in school here, and we feel that our life is starting here again.
In the arid lands of Qararo (Somalia) located approximately 30 kilometres from Gunagado, Amina Ibrahim's life took an unexpected turn.
A mother of twelve children, Amina was forced to leave her home in 2017.
The devastating combination of a drought that claimed her family's cattle and an outbreak of Acute Watery Diarrhea (AWD), suspected to be cholera, posed a grave threat to her family's survival.
With resilience and hope, Amina embarked on a journey to a new life, seeking assistance from the government and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in their quest for sustenance.
Struggling to Survive
Amina highlights the desperate circumstances that compelled their relocation. The family's hope rested on the support of the government and NGOs, whose assistance became their lifeline. Amina reflects, "Now our children are in school here, and we feel that our life is starting here again."
Living on Scanty Resources
While the family receives intermittent aid through the Ethiopian government's program, the Distributed Public Program (DPP), the assistance is sporadic, arriving only once every one or two months in quantities of around 10 kilograms of food. On occasions, NGOs provide porridge to supplement their meals. However, transportation remains a persistent challenge, rendering it impossible for Amina and her family to seek food or transport water.
Although Oxfam helped install a water tap, the water supply is not constant. As a result, they rely on a gruelling 1.5-hour trek to the river and back for their water needs.
Oxfam's support extends beyond water access, encompassing hygiene supplies, cash, plastic sheets, shelter materials, and public health education.
Loss and Resilience
Before the devastating drought, Amina's family thrived with a herd of 150 sheep and 15 camels, which sustained their livelihood. She recalls, "We raised animals, we sold them to buy what we needed, and we had water, nothing was missing at that time. We had what we needed." However, the outbreak of cholera turned their lives upside down, depriving them of essential sustenance and posing a threat to their very survival. Grateful to still be alive, Amina vividly describes the horrors of the disease and the hardship it brought upon their family.
Climate Change Challenges
Amina acknowledges the changing climate as a significant factor in their struggles. She remarks, "In 2016 and 2017, the rain was less and less, and now it is much hotter." Although uncertain about the underlying causes, Amina emphasizes the growing scarcity of rain and the rising temperatures in the region, exacerbating their already challenging circumstances
Dreams of a Better Future
Despite the hardships endured, Amina remains resolute in her determination to build a brighter future for her family. With her background in animal husbandry, she contemplates the possibility of becoming a cattle trader. However, she recognizes the need for additional training and broader engagement in various small-scale enterprises. Amina aspires to diversify their livelihood and establish a life closer to the city. She says, "We want to stay here and live so that children can go to school, diversify our livelihood, and live near the city."
Amina shares her optimism for the future, stating, "I'm starting to recover from the drought."
She observes that some individuals in their community have received business training and are eligible for loans to initiate food businesses, generating income to repay their debts.
Amina recognises the potential for such opportunities to empower her and her family, enabling them to regain stability and independence.
Amina shares her optimism for the future, stating, "I'm starting to recover from the drought."
She observes that some individuals in their community have received business training and are eligible for loans to initiate food businesses, generating income to repay their debts.
Amina recognises the potential for such opportunities to empower her and her family, enabling them to regain stability and independence.
