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A broken borehole motor has caused a severe water shortage for hundreds of displaced families and pastoralists in Hoosingow, southern Somalia’s Lower Juba region. The borehole, which served over 600 families, stopped working on 20 July, worsening the situation after a season of poor rainfall.
For many residents, the breakdown has turned daily life into a struggle for survival.
A Mother’s Struggle for Water
In Uusle displacement camp, mother of eight, Fadumo Dahir Omar, walks eight kilometres each morning to collect a 10-litre container of water from a small seasonal pool. The journey can take up to 10 hours, leaving her exhausted and with little time to earn an income.
“The water has been cut off since the motor broke down. The children haven’t bathed, there’s nothing to cook with, and our clothes are dirty,” she said.
The water from the pool is unsafe, turning green with a foul taste. Carrying it on her back causes body aches, but it is barely enough to meet her family’s needs. Without time to collect and sell firewood, her only source of income has disappeared.
Fadumo’s situation is made worse by the fact that she was displaced from Bulo-haji in 2022 due to conflict, and her shelter is in poor condition after being damaged by strong winds.
Pastoralists Hit Hard
The water shortage has also been devastating for pastoralists in the area. Ahmed Jibril Yusuf arrived in Hoosingow with his 50 camels, only to find the borehole broken. His animals have gone without water for six days, and the seasonal pool is too small to meet the needs of both people and livestock.
“I have no money to buy water, and the vendors want five dollars just to give enough water for one camel,” Ahmed said. “We cannot afford to fix the motor or buy a new one.”
With his camels weakening, Ahmed is considering moving to another well 40 kilometres away, though the animals are not strong enough for the journey.
A Community Without Resources
Borehole manager Mohamed Ali Abdi said the motor was donated to the community in 2019 by the Wajir South Development Association. Since the breakdown, they have been trying for two weeks to repair it without success and have asked for help from the Jubbaland administration.
“We need spare parts and mechanics to fix it. Everyone is thirsty – people and animals – and the situation is worse than anything we’ve seen before,” he said.
Worsened by Drought
The crisis comes at a time when the Gu’ rainy season has failed, leading to a shortage of pasture and economic hardship. Families are relying on unsafe water, and pastoralists face losing their animals – their main source of livelihood.
For the people of Hoosingow, the borehole was more than just a water source; it was a lifeline. Without it, daily life has become a fight for survival, with the poorest and most vulnerable paying the highest price.