By Maslah Mumin | BORESHA Project
Mandera North sub-county has been an epi-center for inter-clan conflict between Garre and Degodia clans who inter-live in many parts of this sub-county. The inter-clan conflicts in Mandera County began in November 2011 and peaked by August 2012 between the Garreh and Degodia clans, triggered by political supremacy in Mandera-North. The County thereafter experienced the worst spate of inter-clan conflicts in the months of February to August 2013 and this created a big number of Internally Displaced People (IDP) in Rhamu who have been forced to flee their homes. Conditions in IDP settlements are challenging, with some still living in sub-standard living conditions even though a lot has been done by the County Government and other NGOs to alleviate this situation. As a vulnerable group with limited coping mechanisms, IDPs have been disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Lack of adequate access to hygiene and sanitation facilities in Darusalam IDP Camp in Rhamu raises concerns about susceptibility to the virus. The town is 75 km from Mandera Town.
Displaced
The coronavirus disease (COVID-19 Pandemic) emerged in Wuhan, China and was announced as global pandemic by the World Health Organisation (WHO) on March 11, 2020. As the world is literally on a standstill due to COVID-19, vulnerable groups like IDPs are more weakened and more prone to experiencing injustice and inequalities. It is in this context that we bring you the story of Halima Adan, a 52-year-old mother of 9 children in Rhamu, Mandera who left everything she had, her home, her town and her community. Dressed in her traditional Somali attire, she leans back in her sit and spreads her arms wide open to welcome us to her humble abode with a hot cup of tea. She is in an empty shack save for a sleeping matt and a water container provided by BORESHA. She says in jest “we have been advised to adhere to the Ministry of Health’s advice to stay home, sanitize, social distance and avoid crowded places, but for IDPs like me living in a crowded camp is a reality I cannot escape, sometimes I wonder whether there are people who think of us and our daily hardships.” The IDPs in Darusalam camp have limited or even non- existent access to basic services, unfortunately we are being left behind in the fight against COVID19 and from my limited understanding of the virus, no one can be safe from it if we are not all safe hence the need for human solidarity, our plight should not be forgotten” says Halima.
BORESHA Support
Under the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) component implemented by CARE, the project has conducted several hygiene awareness sessions on the importance of hygiene practices and COVID safety measures, distributed hygiene kits to the IDPs including soap, water containers, information packs as well as hand washing stations. The camp already has several water kiosks and therefore have access to water albeit not sufficient. “We are grateful for this support, moreover of importance is that we have been recognized as a vulnerable group that needs help, this support will go a long way in defeating the virus especially the soap and hand washing station which are crucial towards the reduction of the transmission of communicable diseases” says Halima.
Hope for the future
Halima misses Wagberi town in Wajir County where she fled from due to conflict. She misses her home, her community and her relatives. She developed her life there, established a home, ties and a routine. To this day she cannot understands the lengths people will go to, why people fight and subjugate others. All she wants is a place to call home, one that is peaceful and one where she can raise her grandchildren to become better people in life, learn the value of life, how to respect others, live a civilized life and eventually to make something out of themselves.