GAROWE (Kaab TV) – The Shabelle camp, located on the outskirts of Garowe, is home to thousands of people who have been displaced from various regions of Somalia.
The camp, a sprawling maze of makeshift shelters built from scraps of wood and torn metal sheets, is a stark reminder of the challenges faced by Somalia’s internally displaced population.
As of May 2023, an estimated 75,000 internally displaced people (IDPs) were living in Garowe, the capital of Puntland. This marked a significant increase compared to the previous year, according to the United Nations.
The majority of the IDPs originate from southern and central Somalia, having been displaced primarily by drought and conflict.
Puntland remains relatively more peaceful compared to southern Somalia, making it a preferred destination for those seeking safety.
For the residents of Shabelle, every day is a struggle for basic necessities—food, water, and shelter.
Education, often seen as a beacon of hope for the future, remains an unattainable dream for the camp’s children.
During the day, boys roam the dusty streets of the camp, their laughter echoing as they play with old, discarded car tires.
Girls, on the other hand, are burdened with fetching water, carrying heavy jerrycans on their backs under the scorching sun.
There are no classrooms here, no teachers, no books.
For the hundreds of children living in Shabelle, school is not just out of reach; it is nonexistent.