(13-06-23) MOGADISHU — Halqabsi News team found Deeqa Jimaale 23, seated outside her makeshift home in Eljaale, near Beledweyn, the last rays of the setting sun casting long shadows on her weary face. As she noticed them, a faint smile appeared on her face, a mother’s welcoming warmth that she had for everyone, even in these desperate times.
Holding her three-year-old daughter Fatima close to her chest, Deeqa began her narrative, her voice barely above a whisper, “Shabelle, our river, it used to be our lifeline. But now, it’s become our nightmare. I’ve seen the worst of its wrath, as a child, and now, as a mother.”
Pausing, she tenderly brushed Fatima’s hair back from her face, continuing, “When the river floods, it doesn’t just take our homes. It takes our dreams, our hopes, our future.” Her eyes welled up, reflecting the vivid pain of past losses. “We used to pray for the river to swell, it meant life for us. But now, I fear it. I fear it for Fatima.”
As she narrated her experiences of fleeing from floodwaters, Deeqa’s voice wavered, “It’s a terrifying sight, you know. To see your home, your life, being washed away. The things you cherished, gone in a moment. But in those moments, you don’t think about what you’re leaving behind. You just run.”
Looking at the news team, Deeqa clutched Fatima a little tighter, her voice breaking, “This tiny hut is what I could build for us. It’s not much, but it’s ours. It’s a roof over Fatima’s head.” She then glanced at her daughter, a mixture of despair and determination in her eyes, “I want more for her. I want her to grow up in a world where she doesn’t have to fear the rain.”
In the deepening twilight, Deeqa’s story lingered in the air. Her heartfelt words echoed the unimaginable hardships she and thousands like her faced and the undying resilience and courage they displayed. Each word she spoke added depth to her narrative, painting a poignant picture of love, loss, and resilience in the face of adversity.
As the Halqabsi News team left, Deeqa’s voice rang out again, softer this time, “We will endure. We will build again. For Fatima, for her future. We will always find a way.” Her words, filled with resilient hope, were a solemn promise echoing in the silent night.
Deeqa’s heartfelt story is a stark reminder of the everyday realities and struggles of hundreds of thousands affected by the floods in Somalia. Yet, despite the scale of the disaster, the spirit of the Somali people remains unbroken.
As we bear witness to their stories, it is crucial to remember that these are not just victims of a disaster but survivors and fighters – people like Deeqa, who, against all odds, continue to hope and fight for a better future for their children.
However, they cannot face this monumental challenge alone. They need our support. Aid in the form of food, clean water, medical supplies, and materials for shelter are urgently needed. Organisations on the ground are working tirelessly to provide immediate assistance and rebuild lives, but they need our help.
Please consider contributing to the relief efforts. Every donation, no matter how small, can make a significant difference to someone like Deeqa and her daughter Fatima. We cannot change the past, but we can help them build a better, safer future.
Let us unite in our humanity, stand with our Somali brothers and sisters, and support them in their time of need. Because every life matters, every story matters, and everyone deserves a chance for a better future.
