WUNRN
SOMALIA: Halimo Omar:
"There is no limit to the suffering"
IRIN - November 2007
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Halimo Omar has taken refuge with her blind husband and
four children near Afgoye |
AFGOYE, Halimo Omar, 40, fled
fighting in Mogadishu, and is now living in a cramped, makeshift camp for the
displaced near the town of Afgoye, 30km south of the capital. Her family first
sought refuge in Jowhar, in the Middle Shabelle region, in the south, and later
moved to Arabiska in Afgoye, where she lives with her blind husband and four
children in a hut made of twigs, torn plastic and old clothes.
"It [the hut] gives us shade from the sun but when it rains it cannot help
us. We arrived here [at the IDP camp] 11 days ago [15 November] when Hawlwadaag
became a battleground." (Omar had been living with her family in
Hawlwadaag district, south Mogadishu, near Bakara market, considered to be one
of the most dangerous areas in the capital, with frequent clashes between
insurgents and government troops.)
"Every day and night there was fighting going on. It seemed that every
house was hit. We finally decided to leave. There were dead bodies all over the
place. Sometimes you had to step over dead people to get away.
"My husband requires constant attention because of his blindness. It was
hard taking care of four children and a blind man when things were good; it is
even harder now, especially when one has to be ready to flee at a moment's
notice.
"My 18-year-old son used to help take care of the family. We used to both
find work at Bakara market, but now even that is closed. We have been through a
lot but this is the worst it has been in the past 17 years.
"Previously, there was a limit to the suffering because everybody was not
affected so you got some help. Now there is no limit, everybody is in the same
situation, so you cannot expect or hope for help from anyone.
"Now at the camp, I go into the bush every morning to collect firewood and
later try to sell it at the roadside to add to what I get during the
distributions [of relief food].
"But thank God we are at least alive. Many of our neighbours did not make
it. I would like to go back but I don’t see how, with the situation the way it
is. I am losing hope of ever going back to Mogadishu."
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