Saturday, May 07, 2016
Abdi overcome with emotion as he shares the story about his generation’s climate tragedy. “If my grandfather woke up today, he would never recognize his village,” he says. Photo: NRC/ Nashon Tado
Nashon Tado
Ever since Abdi was born, 43 years ago, the wet and dry seasons, locally named Gu and Jilal, used to follow one another in a predictable manner. But, over the past five years, Abdi has only witnessed Jilal. The Gu has completely disappeared.
“I remember when I was a small boy and this place had many trees. It was a vibrant community, full of happy people. But the trees have been gradually cut down, for charcoal and for home construction. Our people used to plant onions, potatoes, corn, barley, wheat, water melon and garlic. However, these activities have been abandoned, due to the water scarcity and many more people have moved away to Jijiga town, to look for jobs,” he explains.
Abdi Ahmed Ismail was born in Barisle Kebele of Kabrebiyah Woreda, in the Somali region of Ethiopia, and has nine children. He explains, almost breaking down into tears that, as a result of this catastrophe, many people have moved to Dagahabur to escape the harsh conditions in Barisle. The ongoing drought in the Somali region of Ethiopia has had the worst effect on his livelihood situation. Only one cow has survived the drought.
In Berisle Kebele of Kebrebiyah Woreda: carcasses of cows, goats and sheep spread across the ground, the immediate casualties of the silent drought that continues to claim lives of livestock. Photo: NRC
“Because of the climatic shocks, over the past 20 years, our people now lack the physical tools and mental strength to keep carrying out land cultivation and planting crops. If my grand-father was to wake up today, he would not recognize this place. It has become a shell from what it used to be. In those days, our families were wealthy, there was an abundance of milk, meat and ghee. The grass would reach waist-height, so if you were sitting down, the person passing nearby would not see you,” he recalls.