Faduma’s Story: A Mother’s Resilience in Somalia

In the heart of Iskaashi IDP Camp in Dayniile district, Somalia, resilience takes the form of a 40-year-old woman named Faduma Abdullahi Hassan.

Faduma, a widowed mother, shoulders an extraordinary burden—caring for 20 children, including her six daughters and ten orphans left behind by her late sister.

Her story is a testament to a mother’s unwavering determination to provide, even in the most challenging of circumstances.

Faduma’s life was once different. Before the crisis uprooted her family, they lived in Jilib district, relying on farming and livestock. But recurrent droughts and erratic rainfall patterns devastated their livelihood, forcing them to leave their home.

Now displaced, Faduma lives in a camp where hunger, cold, and lack of shelter define daily life.

“We used to go days without a proper meal,” Faduma shares.

“The hunger was unbearable, and hearing my children cry was like a dagger in my heart.” With no steady income, Faduma does whatever it takes to keep her family afloat.

She purchases sand to craft cooking pots, washing clothes for villagers when they allow her, earning barely $2-3 a day.

Despite her tireless efforts, it’s often not enough to meet the most basic needs of food, education, or healthcare.

The challenges in the camp extend beyond hunger. Poor shelter means cold nights and leaky plastic sheets during the rain. No latrines leave families vulnerable to diseases.

The lack of health services and education only adds to the uphill battle Faduma and others in the camp face.

A Glimpse of Relief

When food aid from MAA International and SOHDA arrived, it brought a ray of hope into Faduma’s life.

She received 10kg of rice, 14kg of flour, 5kg of sugar, and 3 liters of cooking oil—enough to provide her family with three meals a day for a time.

“This was the happiest day of my life,” Faduma recalls.

“We cooked Canjeero for breakfast, rice for lunch, and Buufo for dinner. My children had never dreamed of such delicious meals.”

For Faduma, it wasn’t just about the food itself but the joy it brought her children—their smiles, their energy returning, and the momentary peace of knowing they wouldn’t go hungry.

More Than Food: A Call for Continued Support

While the food aid has provided much-needed relief, Faduma’s struggles are far from over.

Her family urgently needs better shelter to protect them from the cold and rain, latrines to improve sanitation, and access to healthcare and education services.

“What I need most is a chance to create self-employment opportunities,” she says. “If I could support my family through my own work, it would mean everything.”

Faduma’s story is one of survival and hope—a mother determined to fight for her children’s future against overwhelming odds. Watch an interview with her here.

Her plea is not for pity but for opportunity. Like any parent, she dreams of seeing her children safe, healthy, and thriving.

A Shared Responsibility

Faduma’s resilience is inspiring, but she cannot do it alone. Her story reflects the broader humanitarian crisis in Somalia, where millions face hunger, displacement, and uncertainty.

Supporting mothers like Faduma means ensuring their children grow up with dignity, health, and the hope of a better tomorrow.

Through initiatives like MAA International’s food aid program, we can make a difference by recognising our shared humanity.

Every parent wants the best for their children, and together, we can help provide Faduma and others like her the tools to rebuild their lives.

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