Friday July 22, 2022
Isack Ahmed Omar's small food shop in Jowhar folded in February 2022/Mohamed Ibrahim/Ergo
Isack Ahmed Omar’s family of 10 used to live off the proceeds from his small food shop in the southern Somali town of Jowhar, but when the business crashed he could only turn to a sibling in the Gulf for help.
Isack’s business folded in February as the protracted drought ravaging Somalia slashed the purchasing power of his customers.
“Since there was no harvest during these years, the drying up of the river and the high cost of living has led to the closure of my business,” said Isack, who used to make 20-30 dollars a day selling flour, rice, sugar, and oil, mainly to farmers from the villages.
“The farmers haven’t planted anything, they are living in a bad situation, so where would they get money to buy things?” Isack added.
His younger sister working in Saudi Arabia is now sending her eldest brother, the first born in the family, $200 every month.
At least 20 of the 50 small businessmen selling food and other commodities along the road through Jowhar’s main market are now out of business due to the drought and economic downturn.
Hussein Ahmed Ali packed up his wares in March due to a lack of customers. He was the breadwinner of his family of six but is now at home with no work. They survive on $150 sent by an uncle in South Africa, enabling them to pay the $60 rent and cook one meal a day.
The uncle is also currently paying the fees for Hussein’s two brothers at a university in Mogadishu costing $270 per semester.
Similarly, Omar Farah Gesay had to reach out to his uncle in Britain when his shop folded up in January. He took his wife and small daughter back to his parent’s house in May as he was unable to pay the $20 rent for the one room they occupied in town.
Omar’s family is now receiving $250 a month from their uncle, although this is not enough for the needs of the large family of nine that Omar was supporting from his business.
All three businessmen that Radio Ergo spoke to have tried but failed to find alternative work in Jowhar. Hussein looked several times for odd jobs on farms but nothing much was going on due to the drought.
Omar has also been disappointed in job hunting and fears trying his luck in another city because he says people get hired on the basis of clan.