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Perspective: Africa - September 2016

Somalia
Photo Essay by Anthony Karen
Text by

Anthony Karen and Leigh Barrett

Above: A Somali refugee at the Badbaado IDP Camp.
Badbaado and Jowhar IDP Camps
Located just outside Mogadishu, the Badbaado camp was formed after the 2011 drought
that devastated much of East Africa, and has since been refuge to those fleeing the
violence. It currently houses around 30,000 refugees. Over the ensuing years, numerous
reports of abuses against the refugees have reached the media. Those running the camp
have been accused of working for the militia and reports of rape, beatings, refused access
to food and medical care, and reprisals for those who complain, appear to be common
and keep the displaced people at the mercy of those who control access, according to a
Human Rights Watch report. Less refugees and more hostages, the understandable anger
towards those in authority mingles with the despair of those who have no choices left.
Children also struggle to receive an education which is crucial if the country is to ever
get past its violent history, and while some schools receive donations from international
NGO’s, it’s not enough to cover the costs, resulting in many schools closing down. The
cycle of history and poverty, which often finds direction in violence, appears doomed to
repeat itself.
Jowhar camp is in the town of Jowhar, a joint administrative capital north of Mogadishu.
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