Abraham writes from Somalia - 2

It is such a coincidence that in Bosaso, the hub of pirate activity on the Gulf of Aden, I am reading an article in today’s newspaper about 43 Indians still under Somali pirate captivity. They may be held captive somewhere around this town, or maybe even far away, but no one around seem to know. The town itself, unlike most port cities which are noisy and bustling with activity, almost always has an eerie calm sans the occasional gun shots heard at night. The beautiful sandy beaches wear a deserted look.



A midst the quietness, what really hits out loud, is the plight of IDPs; the way they live (or to say barely stay alive). They have made Bosaso their home fleeing from conflict in other parts of Somalia, especially from the South and Central regions. Some have come here recently, but most have been around for a long time; some have been here since 2003. Living in rented make-shift settlements, men manage to eke out a living for their families through working as laborers in the port or other businesses in and around the town. Their earnings barely provide for one meal a day for their families; none for medical care and children’s education. They are certainly caught in a quagmire of complexity (due to conflict) and uncertainty (due to lack of access to livelihood). Every small step taken to provide these people with continued basic necessities and services appears like a giant leap forward. With limited sight of consistency in governance or institutional set up, these ‘small steps’ are the only alternative to give these people a life with very basic necessities and dignity.

The relentless efforts by several agencies, international and national seem to be the only sea of hope for the IDPs living in Bosaso. While on the one hand I am crossing my fingers in hope that the agencies are able to continue doing what little they are, fingers on my other hand remains crossed for the release of the 43 fellow Indians held captive for many years here in Somalia.

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By Aby Abraham