Stories From Dadaab: Fatuma

Fatuma slideshow

Click photo to view slideshow.

Images available on Flickr

Fatuma Ibrahim is 65 years old. She arrived in Dadaab in September 2011. Fatuma left her home in Kismayo when she lost everything she had due to drought and famine. She is a mother of 8 and she has no source of income to cover her family needs including those of her ailing husband. The only asset that Fatuma own is the ratio card, which enables her to receive food ration. Sometimes food distribution dates changes or delays, making life very difficult for Fatuma and her dependants. When she arrived in Dadaab refugee camp, she knew nobody and no one wanted to accommodate her because of her husband’s violence. He has severe mental health issues. With no facilities for those who pose a danger to themselves and others, her husband’s hands are always tied to prevent violence to their children. Fatuma is grateful that she was targeted to receive cash relief. “I have always been seeing other women going to the market and returning home with nice things for their children; I had never been to the market since I had no money to spend. I had never even held Kenyan money. When I received the cash from AFSC, I sat with my children and planned what we needed to buy. I bought shoes for my two daughters and a school uniform for my son. I also bought meat, milk and I paid the debt of Ksh 200 to the shop owner where I had borrowed cooking fat sometime ago. I will start a small business when I received the rest of the money from AFSC.”

Fatuma is a resident at the Dadaab refugee camp since coming from Somalia in 2011. Photo by: John Bongei/AFSC.

Fatuma Ibrahim is 65 years old and arrived in Dadaab on September 2011. Fatuma left her home in Kismayo when she lost everything due to drought and famine. She is a mother of 8 and she has no source of income to cover her family’s needs including those of her ailing husband; He has severe mental health issues and with no facilities for those who pose a danger to themselves and others, his hands are always tied to prevent violence to their children. The only asset that Fatuma owns is a ration card, which enables her to receive food disbursements. Sometimes food distribution dates change or are delayed, making life very difficult for Fatuma and her family. Arriving at the Dadaab refugee camp was a difficult transition, they had no friends or family at the camp and no one wanted to accommodate them because of her husband’s violent behavior. 

Through AFSC's cash relief project Fatuma was able to provide some basic neccessities for her family.

 “I have always been seeing other women going to the market and returning home with nice things for their children. I had never been to the market since I had no money to spend. When I received the cash from AFSC, I sat with my children and planned what we needed to buy. I bought shoes for my two daughters and a school uniform for my son. I also bought meat, milk and I paid the debt of 200Ksh (approx. $2.50) to the shop owner where I had borrowed cooking fat sometime ago." - Fatuma Ibrahim

Fatuma looks forward to starting a business of her own when she receives the remainder of her cash relief.

Read more in the series  "Voices from Dadaab" by AFSC-Somalia staff John Bongei