Dear Family and Friends,

 

 

On April 1st, a huge fire broke out in our hometown, Hargeisa, and destroyed tens thousands of small businesses wiping out the livilihoods of tens thousands of low income families the majority of whom with no other means of income. This accounts for an estimated 50% of the economy of a town with 1.5 million people. The mayor's office estimated a loss of $1.5 billion to $2 billion in goods and property. According to the Mayor of Hargeisa, “the town has never witnessed such a calamity [as this market] was the economic center of Hargeisa”. This is a major international tragedy that touched the hearts of many people across the world.

We are a group of Somali students and young professionals from Hargeisa working and studying in the United States and the UK. We are raising emergency funds to support low-income women bussiness owners who lost everything to the fire. Each of the women we want to support through the transition was the sole bread winner for an entire family.  These women are resilient and will continue to venture out to feed their families and children. Only a day after the devastating fire, they have returned to the streets under the blazing sun with no shade because they JUST DO NOT HAVE ANY OTHER OPTION. They are resilient but face tremendous challenges and with your help, they will continue to rise. 
 
We are partnering with AHDI Promise, a charity that supports younth education with a focus on girls education. AHDI is temporarily changing its operations to support the victims of the fire.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Point of contact:

Ridwa Ali - Brunel University

Mubarik Mohamoud - Grad Student at MIT in the Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Department

Fadumo Yousuf - Graduate student at University College Dublin

Hamda Bulbul - Glasgow Caledonian University Class of 2021, Scotland

Fahima Ali – Columbia class of 2021, Founder of Hiil Movement and a graduate student at Tufts University Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy

Ibrahim Baqardhe – Connecticut College class of 2020 and Chair at UWC Somaliland National Committee

Kawsar Muuse - American University of Beirut, Lebanon

Ubah Ali - University of Stirling, Scotland

Sahra AW Cise - Brandise University, Massachusetts

Naima M. Farah - American University of Beirut, Lebanon

Abdisamad Muhiyadin - Harvard Class of 2020 and Program director at Nomizo Learning Labs.

Dahir Abdi - West Virginia University
Siham Mumin - University of Rochester Class of 2018, NY

 

 

News Coverage:

ABC News: Somaliland market fire losses estimated at up to $2 billion

https://abcnews.go.com/amp/International/wireStory/somaliland-market-fire-losses-estimated-billion-83846644

BBC News: Hargeisa fire: Inferno devastates market in Somaliland's capital

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-60967458.amp