Somalia: With solar energy against drought and hunger

Keyf Hussein (37) lives with her family of ten in the village of Dalsan in Somalia. Peppers, kale, spinach, and watermelons thrive in her garden. "My children love the watermelons!" she says. Like most people in the region, Keyf Hussein's family lives from livestock farming and agriculture. But the irregular and weak rainfall of recent years has caused the wells to dry up. Many animals have died of thirst, and fields have parched. In this East African country, more than five million people are threatened by hunger.

Together with the local organization NAPAD (Nomadic Assistance for Peace and Development), Terre des Hommes has launched a project in the Gedo and Galgadud regions to improve the water supply for communities and the food security of 2,500 households. Solar-powered water supply systems have been installed in three communities for this purpose. Keyf Hussein has to water her garden morning and evening. The village well was no longer sufficient.

But thanks to the new technology, water can be pumped from great depths, ensuring enough water to supply livestock and vegetable gardens. At the same time, Keyf Hussein received adapted seeds and training in suitable cultivation methods to better cope with the water scarcity. A total of 50 women are participating in the project. "Thanks to the training and the exchange with the NAPAD team, we can cultivate our vegetable gardens. I now have nutritious fruits and vegetables for my family," she reports. And what the family can't use themselves, she gives to her neighbors. "We are very grateful for the project, through which we have learned this type of agriculture." Keyf Hussein also has a wish for the future: "I hope that in the future I can grow more and sell it at the market in Abudwak."