BELEDWEYNE (KAAB TV) – In Beledweyne, central Somalia, a group of youth and business owners have begun rehabilitating roads that were severely damaged by floods several months ago.
With no support from local authorities and despite claims by international NGOs, including the UN, of funding local flood recovery efforts, residents have taken matters into their own hands.
Farah Garaad, a volunteer working on the project, emphasized the community’s frustration over the lack of assistance. “We decided to take action ourselves after not receiving any support. I urge all locals to join this initiative, and we thank those who have helped so far,” Garaad said.
Women in the community have also joined the effort.
During a site visit on Tuesday near the city’s main police station, Halima Hassan, one of the participants, expressed the need for collective action. “If we join hands, we can achieve a lot. Let all our people come together and support this initiative,” she urged.
Notably absent from the rehabilitation efforts are the Beledweyne District Administration and Hiiraan regional authorities, both of which collect taxes from residents but have not participated in the project.
Beledweyne is a conflict-affected city, with rival groups vying for control.
The Hirshabelle administration claims to govern the city, while the Hiiraan State faction disputes this, asserting its legitimacy. Local militia groups also maintain a strong presence, setting up roadblocks to collect fees from passing trucks and buses.
Al-Shabaab further complicates the situation, controlling large areas surrounding Beledweyne.
This grassroots initiative highlights the resilience and determination of the Beledweyne community as they work to rebuild their city in the face of ongoing conflict and minimal external support.