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‘‘My eye vision is no longer blurry,’’- the story of Batula, an IDP in Mogadishu

Being a mother and displaced at the same time is a hard experience. However, the situation becomes worse when the mother, who is the sole breadwinner for an extended family, becomes sick and is no longer able to provide for her family. This is the story of Batula Abdi, a mother of eight children who lives in an internally displaced person (IDP) camp on the outskirts of Mogadishu, Somalia.

I was displaced from Qooryooley district, Lower Shabelle region due to severe drought. As a pastoralist, I lost everything and had no choice but to flee to Mogadishu for a better life. Since then, life has not been easy, and I have not been lucky enough to find a job. However, when the situation started to deteriorate, the Danish Refugee Council (DRC) came in and supported us with monthly cash transfers.

Batula, an IDP living in a camp in Mogadishu

Life changing support for Batula and her family

With funding from the European Union through UN-Habitat, DRC implemented a 4-month mobile-based cash transfer project to assist 3,437 families affected by the economic impacts of COVID-19 in Mogadishu.

Like Batula, thousands of people are benefiting from the cash support, which is helping them cope with the economic effects of the pandemic.

"I received $60 for four consecutive months, and the process was flexible and convenient since I didn’t need to go anywhere. I received it through my mobile," adds Batula.

COVID-19 has changed the way we used to live, and the financial implications it caused have led to job losses, especially for vulnerable and internally displaced people like Batula.

She has been working hard to feed her children but has been unable to find a job since she was displaced from her hometown of Qooryooley. To make matters worse, she became sick and had to struggle with an eye disorder.

I felt that there was something wrong with my eyesight, and I was worried about it more than anything else in my life. Imagine being sick and unable to see a doctor. That was a terrible experience

Batula, an IDP in a camp in Mogadishu

Thanks to the cash support from the European Union, Batula was able to go to a local hospital and get the necessary treatment for her eye disorder.

Her eyesight is no longer blurry, and that has enabled her to carry on with her day-to-day life as she continues to support her family.

Through the EU response to the health and socio-economic impact of COVID-19 in Mogadishu, the Danish Refugee Council has registered 3,437 households for cash transfer assistance. Each household received $60 for four months, and the target locations were Shangani, Abdiaziz, and Deynile districts in Mogadishu.