In drought-plagued Somalia, some break the Ramadan fast with little but water

The holy month of Ramadan this year coincides with the longest drought on record in Somalia. As the sun sets and Muslims around the world gather to break their daily fasts with generous dinners, Hadiiq Abdulle Mohamed and her family have just water and whatever food might be at hand. Ramadan brought an increase in food prices for a country already struggling with inflation caused in part by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the withering of local crops by five consecutive failed rainy seasons. We have this small hot meal, but do you think that this can feed a family of six children, plus a mother and father?” The typical Ramadan fast-breaking meal includes samosas and other snacks; juice, tea and coffee; a main dish of rice, spaghetti or flatbread with camel, goat, chicken or fish; and dessert. This month, World Food Program monitoring reported that supply chain resilience was generally good in Somalia, but the spike in demand for Ramadan would be “a disadvantage to vulnerable households who depend on local markets.” “We are really experiencing a soaring price of food and other basic commodities,” said Ahmed Khadar Abdi Jama, a lecturer in economics at Somalia University.