Published by participants in the  Certificate in Journalism program

of the African Virtual University-Indiana University of Pennsylvania Partnership.

The African Star

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Disabled fight for their rights  in Somaliland

            The chairperson of the disabled women development Organization (HAN),  has urged  the public to consider disable people  as equal to them .

Speaking during an interview Anab Hassan  said  disabled people must be positive and not consider themselves inferior.

She said  HAN was established in August 2003 and is involved in enhancing the education, health, skills knowledge of the disabled women and girls in the country.

The physical disability is a result of misplaced mines by the former military regime soldiers, polio, stroke and some born disabled.

Anab said the disabled people encounter many problems within their families, education institution  which have no special facilities, and buses which don’t have special entrances and exits.

  These obstacles have denied  disabled people from  actively participating in development and social activities.

The ministry, in collaboration with development agencies such as Candlelight, uses local and national media and other communication methods to raise the awareness of the local communities to protect the trees, and to encourage planting new trees to replace the lost ones.

A series of workshops have been organized for the charcoal dealers to educate them about the importance of trees for the sustainable productivity of the rangelands. But new groups are forming every time to destroy certain patches of trees.

Asked about alternative sources of energy Farah said the ministry has encouraged the exploration of the coal deposit in the Golis Range Mountains. A  number of organisations and private groups are involved in studying the safe use of the local coal.

The neighboring countries, notably Djibouti and Ethiopia, are using kerosene stoves for cooking. Solar, wind and animal dung are other potential energy sources. 

Farah said there is a sufficient deposit of coal in the mountains. Although some reports indicated that it has low quality, coal is the potential alternative energy to replace charcoal to conserve the remaining tree cover in Somaliland.

The ministry is welcoming all local and external investment to explore the viable use of the local coal.

The ministry maintains tree nurseries at all its centers in the six regions of Somaliland to sell in affordable costs to the interested locals.

The International and local development agencies are also encouraged to support the communities in planting and nursing tree saplings. Agencies like ActionAid are already involved.

“Based on the capacity, the ministry will do its best to mobilize local resources and attract external support for sustaining the ecosystem.

“We are requesting the journalists to work hand in hand with the ministry to reverse the wheel.” Farah said.