The drought in central Somalia’s Galmudug state has left many poor families, including Maka Hassan Ahmed and Habibo Ahmed Mahmoud, struggling to pay school fees, forcing their children to be expelled from school.
Financial Strains
- Maka Hassan Ahmed, a mother of four, has been unable to pay school fees for her children, resulting in their expulsion from Waabari and Horseed schools.
- Habibo Ahmed Mahmoud, a single mother of 15, had three of her children in second grade expelled from Gurmad School in Dusamareb due to unpaid fees.
- Maryam Abdi Ali, another single mother, had four of her children expelled from their education after failing to pay $140 in fees over six months.
Effects of Drought on Livestock and Income
The drought has severely impacted the livestock industry, making it difficult for Maka to earn a living by slaughtering goats.
Maka used to slaughter two goats a day and earn between $10 and $15 profit, but the drought has led to a decline in the quality and price of goats, making it hard for her to afford food, water, and education for her children.
Similarly, Habibo Ahmed Mahmoud struggles to find enough food for her family, relying on uncooked food given by relatives once every 24 hours.
Debt and Financial Burden
Maka owes $198 in unpaid fees, while Habibo owes $3,500 borrowed to buy food and an old debt she had been paying off.
Maryam Abdi Ali has a $2,000 debt covering food, rent for her house and business space, and water bills.
Impact on Education
The drought has led to the expulsion of many children from school, leaving them without education and future opportunities.
“When business went bad, the children were expelled from school. The last child was expelled three nights ago. I was careful and wanted to make sure he stayed in school, but difficult circumstances arose. Schools require monthly fees to teach the children, which I can’t afford,”
“Sometimes I take a goat for meat on credit for $30, and then resell it. Some days I make a $3 profit, which isn’t enough for my family. Other days, the meat doesn’t sell, and I end up at a loss and in debt. I have debts totalling $300 to a woman I bought five goats from on credit and couldn’t pay back, so I’m no longer given credit.”
Struggles of Single MothersSingle mothers, such as Habibo Ahmed Mahmoud and Maryam Abdi Ali, are struggling to provide for their families and pay school fees, leading to the expulsion of their children from school.
“I have no other source of income,” said Habibo Ahmed Mahmoud. “I am the only earner in the family. When things were good, we cooked food three times a day. We didn’t have to borrow money. We made a profit. We had enough food. I slaughtered a goat to pay for food, clothes, everything. But now, things are not the same, we are starving. We only cook once a day – hunger is real, and getting food is a problem.”
| Impact on Livestock | Decline in the quality and price of goats |
| Impact on Income | Difficulty for Maka to earn a living by slaughtering goats |
| Impact on Education | Expulsion of many children from school |
The drought in central Somalia’s Galmudug state has left many poor families, including Maka Hassan Ahmed, Habibo Ahmed Mahmoud, and Maryam Abdi Ali, struggling to pay school fees, forcing their children to be expelled from school.
