Weekly Feedback Report CONTACT ADDRESS: [email protected] Issued: 23 May 2021 Brief Summary Locusts were one of the main concerns of this week’s (14-20 May 2021) callers to the Radio Ergo audience feedback platform. In various parts of the country the locusts returned following the rainfall. The damage caused by extremely heavy downpours and flash or river flooding was also the subject of many calls especially from central and riverine areas. Callers also reported outbreaks of malaria and diarrhoea. Delayed rains and water shortage were reported from a number of regions. COVID19 was also a major concern among the callers. The following summarises the calls by theme. COVID19 – there were more calls on this topic than in the last few weeks, coming from various parts of the country. In Erigabo, Sanag, a caller said they were waiting for the vaccine as the virus was spreading concerningly and the authorities should act. Another Sanag caller asked the Somaliland and Puntland governments to conduct mass testing, as the virus was widespread there although many people said it was only flu. A caller in Mudug said they needed help in containing Coronavirus there. In Puntland, a caller asked which was riskier, Coronavirus itself or the vaccine. Other callers had questions to the Radio Doctor about prevention, symptoms, treatment, and repeat infections. A female caller in Garowe asked if you could catch Coronavirus after swimming with other people. Locusts – new waves of invasive locusts were reported from several parts of the country, especially from northern regions, some from central areas, and also from Gedo. A farmer in Oodweyne, Togdher, said their beans, maize and tomatoes had been wiped out by the locusts. Farmers in Hudun and Ainabo, Sool, were concerned about their crops and contamination of water by the locusts that had fallen in. A caller in Garadag, Sanag, said the locusts had descended after the rainfall and were eating the vegetation and scaring the livestock. Others in Erigabo and Badhan wanted to know about methods of control. In Bari region, callers in Bosaso, Waiye, and Qardo reported waves of locusts arriving after the rain. A caller in Shimbirale, Nugal, said the long- awaited growth of pasture for the livestock was being eaten by locusts. Similar complaints were made by several callers in Galkayo, Adado, and Guriel. A caller in Garbaharey, Gedo, said the people wanted to know how to tackle the locusts and recover from the impact. There were also calls about locust invasions from parts of Ethiopia’s Somali region. Floods & adverse weather – Heavy rains causing flooding and destruction were reported from Nugal in Puntland, several parts of Mudug, and from Abudwak in Galgadud. A caller in Galkayo said the downpours had destroyed houses, trees, and crops and they needed urgent help. In Guriel, a female caller said the rainfall had led to flash flooding that killed their goats and damaged the water catchments. A female caller in Abudwak said they were in need of shelter. Floods from the river Shabelle caused chaos for many people especially in M. Shabelle (Jowhar and Afgoye) and Hiran (Beletweyne). Several callers in Jowhar said their houses had been flooded, livestock drowned, and crops destroyed. Some said they were marooned by flood waters and could only move using boats. One caller in Beled-hawo, Gedo, also said they had lost all their property in floods there. Health – a number of callers in Somaliland, Sanag, Togdher, and Mudug (Jarriban) complained about malaria resulting from mosquitoes breeding in flood water. Some asked for mosquito nets. In Qoryolle, L.Shabelle, a caller said diarrhoea was spreading among children and the elderly and hospitals were treating many patients. The caller claimed that some children had died. IDPs – callers identifying as IDPs in Bosaso, Buhodle, Garowe, and Galkayo, complained of hardships and various needs including shelter. Some complained of aid not reaching them due to corruption. WASH – a number of callers still reported drought conditions and water shortages, in parts of Somaliland and Puntland, as well as Gedo (Bardera), Bay (Burhakaba), and L. Shabelle (Wanleweyn). A caller in Hidhhidh, Togdher, said they could not get water as their solar-powered well had broken down. A female caller in Hargo, Puntland, said the drought had killed their goats, and in addition locusts were eating the vegetation. Farmers in Qardho asked for 1 help with crop irrigation. In Burhakaba, a farmer said the crops they had planted were perishing and the animals were also in poor condition due to lack of rainfall and water. Protection/UXOs – a caller in Togdher said the rains had led to soil erosion, revealing some landmines that were posing a risk to the community. He asked for help. Locusts were one of the main concerns of this week’s (14-20 May 2021) callers to the Radio Ergo audience feedback platform. In various parts of the country the locusts returned following the rainfall. The damage caused by extremely heavy downpours and flash or river flooding was also the subject of many calls especially from central and riverine areas. Callers also reported outbreaks of malaria and diarrhoea. Delayed rains and water shortage were reported from a number of regions. COVID19 was also a major concern among the callers. The following summarises the calls by theme. COVID19 – there were more calls on this topic than in the last few weeks, coming from various parts of the country. In Erigabo, Sanag, a caller said they were waiting for the vaccine as the virus was spreading concerningly and the authorities should act. Another Sanag caller asked the Somaliland and Puntland governments to conduct mass testing, as the virus was widespread there although many people said it was only flu. A caller in Mudug said they needed help in containing Coronavirus there. In Puntland, a caller asked which was riskier, Coronavirus itself or the vaccine. Other callers had questions to the Radio Doctor about prevention, symptoms, treatment, and repeat infections. A female caller in Garowe asked if you could catch Coronavirus after swimming with other people. Locusts – new waves of invasive locusts were reported from several parts of the country, especially from northern regions, some from central areas, and also from Gedo. A farmer in Oodweyne, Togdher, said their beans, maize and tomatoes had been wiped out by the locusts. Farmers in Hudun and Ainabo, Sool, were concerned about their crops and contamination of water by the locusts that had fallen in. A caller in Garadag, Sanag, said the locusts had descended after the rainfall and were eating the vegetation and scaring the livestock. Others in Erigabo and Badhan wanted to know about methods of control. In Bari region, callers in Bosaso, Waiye, and Qardo reported waves of locusts arriving after the rain. A caller in Shimbirale, Nugal, said the long- awaited growth of pasture for the livestock was being eaten by locusts. Similar complaints were made by several callers in Galkayo, Adado, and Guriel. A caller in Garbaharey, Gedo, said the people wanted to know how to tackle the locusts and recover from the impact. There were also calls about locust invasions from parts of Ethiopia’s Somali region. Floods & adverse weather – Heavy rains causing flooding and destruction were reported from Nugal in Puntland, several parts of Mudug, and from Abudwak in Galgadud. A caller in Galkayo said the downpours had destroyed houses, trees, and crops and they needed urgent help. In Guriel, a female caller said the rainfall had led to flash flooding that killed their goats and damaged the water catchments. A female caller in Abudwak said they were in need of shelter. Floods from the river Shabelle caused chaos for many people especially in M. Shabelle (Jowhar and Afgoye) and Hiran (Beletweyne). Several callers in Jowhar said their houses had been flooded, livestock drowned, and crops destroyed. Some said they were marooned by flood waters and could only move using boats. One caller in Beled-hawo, Gedo, also said they had lost all their property in floods there. Health – a number of callers in Somaliland, Sanag, Togdher, and Mudug (Jarriban) complained about malaria resulting from mosquitoes breeding in flood water. Some asked for mosquito nets. In Qoryolle, L.Shabelle, a caller said diarrhoea was spreading among children and the elderly and hospitals were treating many patients. The caller claimed that some children had died. IDPs – callers identifying as IDPs in Bosaso, Buhodle, Garowe, and Galkayo, complained of hardships and various needs including shelter. Some complained of aid not reaching them due to corruption. WASH – a number of callers still reported drought conditions and water shortages, in parts of Somaliland and Puntland, as well as Gedo (Bardera), Bay (Burhakaba), and L. Shabelle (Wanleweyn). A caller in Hidhhidh, Togdher, said they could not get water as their solar-powered well had broken down. A female caller in Hargo, Puntland, said the drought had killed their goats, and in addition locusts were eating the vegetation. Farmers in Qardho asked for help with crop irrigation. In Burhakaba, a farmer said the crops they had planted were perishing and the animals were also in poor condition due to lack of rainfall and water. Protection/UXOs – a caller in Togdher said the rains had led to soil erosion, revealing some landmines that were posing a risk to the community. He asked for help. Date Location Gender Theme Remarks Hello my name is K.M.A in Oodweyne. We are doing well and we pray that we don't get afflicted 20-05-2021 Bosaso Bari female COVID19 by the Coronavirus pandemic. Hello, Radio Ergo, my name is A.A.G from Erigabo, we are waiting for the Coronavirus vaccine but we haven't received any yet.