Farhia

Over a period of two years in Somalia, I heard different versions of the same story—families forced from their homes by climate shocks, conflict, or both.

I met Farhia at a health centre in Mogadishu. She was sitting among other mothers waiting for nutrition support. All of them had been displaced.

But her story stayed with me. It was the first time in her life she had left home. Just six months earlier, she had a farm—a relatively stable, dignified life. But conflict forced them to leave everything behind to start over. Start over a life she had no idea how to live. “I only know how to farm. What am I supposed to do here?” she said.

Her produce used to feed her entire family. Now, she and her three children live on one meal a day.

Hundreds of thousands of people flee their homes every day across Somalia. Most of the time on foot and under the worst conditions - no food, water, or shelter on the way. Farhia walked from Jowhar to Mogadishu with her three kids, around 100 kilometres. Others I’ve met have travelled even farther—from near Berbera in the north to Baidoa, more than 1,300 kilometres.

“I hope we can go back to the farm,” she said, adding, “inshallah (God-willing).”