Somalia: Radio Ergo Weekly Feedback Report, Issued: 25 Sept 2026

Please refer to the attached file.

Brief Analysis

Several callers to Radio Ergo’s independent, nationwide audience feedback platform in the week 17-23 September 2026 expressed concerns about the predicted El Niño and asked for further information or assistance to help them plan ahead. The majority of calls during the week were about either rainfall or continuing drought. The overall picture presented was mixed, with some districts of the country generating calls about drought, as well as others about rain. Most callers citing rainfall were in southern regions, with some in central areas. Most citing drought conditions were in central regions, with some further north and some in the south. Some farmers in Middle Shabelle areas spoke of having good harvests and starting the next planting cycle, although several others complained of various damaging crop pests. The following summarises the calls by theme.

El Niño preparedness – in Gedo region, a caller in Bardera said he was among the IDPs facing hardship in a camp, including food shortage and lack of toilets. He added that they had no plastic sheeting for shelters as the rains began. He wanted his message shared with aid organisations. Another said they had not yet received rainfall but their main fear at the moment was the prospect of river floods. In Beledhawo, a caller said it was very windy by the river and people had heard about El Niño and were in fear. A farmer in Maqasha village near Dollow said farmers had stopped planting due to fear of floods. They wanted to know if they should proceed with farming or cease. In Hiran, a caller in Beledweyne said people wanted to get the weather forecast updates and to know what to expect.

In the north, a caller in Bali-Muse, Dadmareen in Togdher region, said they had been hearing about warnings of El Niño and wanted to know more about it and how it would affect them as farmers, as well as people in other Somaliland regions.

Food security – a caller in Bula-sheikh, Middle Shabelle, said they had harvested good produce and were doing well and preparing to plant again. Another in Jowhar, Middle Shabelle, said they had harvested their maize harvest and were now starting the new planting season. He noted an increase in the river water level.

Agriculture – many farmers in Middle and Lower Shabelle and Gedo complained of various types of pests invading their farms and spoiling their cops. They mostly wanted advice and help on pesticides and control methods.

Livestock – herders from various locations reported diseases affecting their livestock and wanted advice from the veterinary experts on the radio. A caller in Godobjiran, Nugal region, complained that their livestock were being killed by poison put down in grazing areas by pastoralists to kill foxes. He said he had lost a camel and a cow in recent months. He called for awareness to be raised about this deadly practice.

Rainfall – one caller in the north, in Beer, Togdher, said the rainy season had begun in his area, although some other areas remained dry. In Galgadud region, three callers in Guriel and one each in Adado and Abudwak said the rain had started and they were doing well. Several in Hiran, including Beletweyne and Buleburte, cited good rainfall. Farmers in several parts of Middle and Lower Shabelle were thankful for good rains, higher levels of water in the river, and good crop growth aiding their recovery. In Bay region, callers in Baidoa and Burhakaba cited beneficial rainfall. A number of callers in Kismayo and Jamame in Lower Juba, and Dollow and Bardera in Gedo, said they were having plentiful rain that was helping recovery.

Drought and water shortage – in the north, a caller in Berbera, Sahil, complained of severe drought. (He also had a Health question for the radio doctor on living with diabetes). A caller in Yube, Sanag, said they were facing severe drought in the area with food shortage and rising prices. He said they couldn’t sell their feeble livestock and appealed for help. He added that earlier they had had a little rainfall causing many people to move to the area, creating water shortages. In Puntland, a caller in Qardo said prolonged drought had led to the loss of some of their animals, while the others had been moved to other areas. He said they needed aid. A caller in Godobjiran, Nugal, asked for help fixing the broken water pump at their borehole. He said drought and water shortage were affecting people and livestock. In Mudug, a female caller recorded three messages from Harardhere asking for urgent water aid due to the severe drought in the area. Another in Mudug said the rainfall was patchy, with his area dry yet rainfall just 35 kilometres away. Among the many callers from across Galgadud, a female caller in Adado said their livestock continued to die due to drought and they needed aid. Others called about drought from Guriel, El-dhere, Dusamareb, and Galhareri. In Hiran, a caller in Buur-weyn said due to the drought they were struggling to find feed for their livestock. In Gedo, several callers cited drought and no rainfall in Dollow, Bardera, El-adde, and El-gadud.