Abdul's impossible choice in Somaliland

1st March 2018 |

An impossible choice

In Somaliland local herders face an impossible decision. Do you risk grazing your animals on landmine riddled ground or see them starve?

Two hours out of Somaliland’s capital, Hargeisa, down almost undetectable dusty roads, is the village of Sayla Bari—an assortment of shelters, huts and brick-built homes. During the country's brutal civil war an army camp was positioned nearby. Local people say that three consecutive Somali generals laid landmines around the camp, leaving a lethal legacy beneath the sun-baked earth.

In a country where drought hits hard, all land is precious. Sometimes this means making the dangerous choice of living or working among the landmines. On the edge of the village we meet a local herdsman who tells us his story of life among the mines.

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"I knew the area was mined but I didn’t really have a choice – there isn’t much good grazing land here and I have over 100 goats to feed."

My name is Abdul Nasser and I am 21-years old. I live just east of Sayla Bari and have used this land since I was a little boy to herd my goats. I knew the area was mined but I didn’t really have a choice – there isn’t much good grazing land here and I have over 100 goats to feed.

Before the land was cleared by HALO I was afraid, but I relied on God to keep me safe.

Now the mines are gone I am relieved. I have just got married and my wife is happy to know that I am not putting myself in danger each day I walk through this land. Today I am going with my axe to build a fence around the water store.

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HALO cleared an area the size of 30 football pitches where Abdul walks each day to graze his goats.

HALO trained 40 local deminers to clear the landmines around the Sayla Bari military camp, meaning Abdul no longer has the impossible choice of walking through mined land or seeing his livestock starve.

Since 1999, HALO has been working in Somaliland to clear vital land. Today orange and papaya trees grow where once there were mines, herders guide goats and camels through the landscape without fear and countless men, women and children have been saved from devastating injury or even death. However, HALO’s work is not complete, landmines still remain to be cleared. In January this year a truck carrying 30 people detonated a mine near Lughay village. The blast ripped through the fuel tank and buckled the seats. Fortunately, no one was seriously injured but it is a stark reminder that Somaliland continues to need your support so its terrible landmine legacy can be removed for good.