Struggle for survival in Somaliland

Struggle for survival in Somaliland

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Across the Horn of Africa, millions have been hit by the severe El Nino-related drought. In Somaliland and the neighbouring, also semi-autonomous, Puntland region, 1.7 million people in are in need of aid, according to the United Nations.

Outside the town of Qol Ujeed, animal carcasses scatter the dry bushland landscape, one of them a scrawny camel.

"Not even the hyenas will come and eat it at night, there is so little meat on it," said an elderly man who had owned the animal.

. Botor, SOMALIA. Reuters/Siegfried Modola

In the past three months, Amina Ibrahim Shirwa and her family have lost around 25 goats, sheep and cows as a harsh drought has ravaged livestock and crops in northern Somalia.

The 50-year-old, who lives outside Botor village in the semi-autonomous Somaliland region, fears for her family's livelihood after several successive poor rainy seasons made worse by El Nino conditions in the Horn of Africa.

Outside her family compound, just a few of her livestock remain. Nearby, dead sheep lie on the ground.

. Botor, SOMALIA. Reuters/Siegfried Modola

While rain finally arrived here this month, its intensity has flooded fields and killed frail, malnourished livestock, too weak to produce milk or with little meat.

"Most of my animals have died due to the lack of rain. The weak ones left are dying now because of the rains that have come," she said. "We have lost most of our livelihood. There is very little money to buy food or to plant crops."

. Awdal, SOMALIA. Reuters/Feisal Omar

In Somaliland itself, the most affected areas include the northwest Awdal region bordering Ethiopia. Many families there say they are losing their last surviving animals, their livelihood, and have little money to work their fields.

. Awdal, SOMALIA. Reuters/Feisal Omar

More than 250,000 people died in a 2011 famine that hit Somalia, a state long plagued by poverty, recurrent drought, hunger and an Islamist insurgency. Some Somaliland residents say this drought is the worst in decades.

. Qol Ujeed, SOMALIA. Reuters/Siegfried Modola

Around 700 families from across Awdal have made their way to a makeshift camp in Qol Ujeed. But aid workers fear a longterm stay will make it worse for them.

"If they settle in this camp, it will get more difficult for them move out in future, their situation will worsen," said Richard Trenchard, head of the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organisation's office for Somalia, adding families needed help towards livestock re-stocking and financial aid to work fields.

The United Nations has appealed for $105 million to provide humanitarian and livelihood assistance.

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Slideshow

An aerial view shows agropastoral settlements outside the capital Hargeisa.
. Hargeisa, SOMALIA. Reuters/Siegfried Modola

An aerial view shows agropastoral settlements outside the capital Hargeisa.

A farmer works in an irrigated field near the village of Botor.
. Botor, SOMALIA. Reuters/Siegfried Modola

A farmer works in an irrigated field near the village of Botor.

A camel herder stands near camels close to the town of Borama.
. Borama, SOMALIA. Reuters/Siegfried Modola

A camel herder stands near camels close to the town of Borama.

An internally displaced woman walks through a camp.
. Qol Ujeed, SOMALIA. Reuters/Siegfried Modola

An internally displaced woman walks through a camp.

Women look on as men show aid workers the carcasses of livestock that died due to drought.
. Borama, SOMALIA. Reuters/Siegfried Modola

Women look on as men show aid workers the carcasses of livestock that died due to drought.

A baboon clings to the leg of an internally displaced boy at a camp.
. Qol Ujeed, SOMALIA. Reuters/Siegfried Modola

A baboon clings to the leg of an internally displaced boy at a camp.

A malnourished cow stands in a field.
. Botor, SOMALIA. Reuters/Siegfried Modola

A malnourished cow stands in a field.

Carcasses of goats are seen near Jidhi town.
. Awdal, SOMALIA. Reuters/Feisal Omar

Carcasses of goats are seen near Jidhi town.

A woman transports her belongings and a sheep on a donkey.
. Awdal, SOMALIA. Reuters/Feisal Omar

A woman transports her belongings and a sheep on a donkey.

A member of Somaliland government tries to feed a camel.
. Awdal, SOMALIA. Reuters/Feisal Omar

A member of Somaliland government tries to feed a camel.

An internally displaced woman carries her child.
. Awdal, SOMALIA. Reuters/Feisal Omar

An internally displaced woman carries her child.

Women pray as they wait for assistance.
. Awdal, SOMALIA. Reuters/Feisal Omar

Women pray as they wait for assistance.

Internally displaced people receive assistance from African Muslim Agency.
. Awdal, SOMALIA. Reuters/Feisal Omar

Internally displaced people receive assistance from African Muslim Agency.

People gather at an artificial water pan.
. Awdal, SOMALIA. Reuters/Feisal Omar

People gather at an artificial water pan.