‎14 Children Have Died Through The Negligence Of Borama Local ‎Council

By Dr. Abdi Elmi Obsiiye, Borama General Hospital

The child had stuck on the deepest part of the mud and could not move his feet. If he could move his body more, it won’t be like this ‘’ said one of those swimmers who came to rescue the child .The Governor and the mayor had requested the huge crowd who gathered there at the banks of the ‘’balley’’ to give assistance the parents who had lost their child .An hour later the mayor had brought a machine which can throw the water out from the balley but after 3 hours, the balley was still full of water. This time the governor of the region had ordered to break the balley in one side so that water may go leaking more swiftly. I think the Governor and the mayor did very well in terms of their capacity while experience like this event will make the 21 mayors better managers in the future..

The two parents spent that night over the “balley “with distress and worries. On the next day the water balley became less and the young boy was removed from the bottom of the mud covered with thorny trees and mud over all his body. The parents and the relatives of the child could hardly resist to calm themselves and loud shouts had spread the whole area while those watching the scene had shed tears too.

Unfortunately, this was not the first child who had lost life in this dam which is only 2kms east from the center of the town, but another 13 children had already fill down there and lost their lives. I was an eye witness of over 8(eight) of these dead children whom their parents brought to hospital for investigation. An investigation for what! An investigation that these children were drowned and lost their lives at this silly balley there! What is more interesting and surprising too is the Zero compensation of these 14 children who had lost their lives in that “water balley “.

Rum ours spread around the villages near by that some one was responsible for the water balley, but an investigation of the police on this issue resulted negative. Therefore. The water dam became no man’s island in which no body claims its property. Who is responsible then? I think this type of land (water dam) will go into the hands of the local council, and if so, it is their responsibility to make a fence over the dam or should send a watchman who keeps and protect the young children to swim. But over the last 4-5 years, the local council of Borama did not worry about anything while all this was happening. In this sense, I feel guilty if I don’t point out and highlight the various issues which I have the right to discuss and criticize . I am sure that it is not a crime to raise your ideas / arguments and explain to the rest of the community who are not aware of it. I want to ask you, do you like to keep silent while some of your beloved children are loosing their lives due to a simple reason which our councils can easily solve it?

The people of the region shared their jokes of the 21 mayors in Borama who are self centered. (Selfish) Nowadays, I have also met some of the local municipality staff who are taking the doors of the houses (or locking the private houses) without giving the least respect to their community who are ready to pay they tax. It is logic that the council may refuse to confirm or deny this claims but the rest of us can see it happening. The local council of Borama is against the spirit of the people’s vote. They should know that their duties are to protect the rights of the poor, the rich, the weak and the children. By the way, I think this added 21 mayors have created a shade of collective disappointment, and the real mayor appears to be hesitant and uncertain. I know we can do much better if our councils are honest, although I still have slight confidence in the future.

Eventually, this type of events may allow us to arrange a meeting with the high official authorities, community leader, intellectuals, the youth and the community elders to promote the rights and the protection of the community. to sum up, there is a wise proverb which says : - “ Too money cooks Spoil the soap “ which in Somali means

“ Cunto kariyaasha badani ma hagaajin karaan Maraqa / Cuntada .”

I have also read some time ago special statements who are on the doors of the U.N, Offices. The statements title was “ whose job is it ? “ and I will write here the full statement as I recall :- “ There is a job to be done’’, some one should have done it , but no body did it .I am afraid the council would loose more lives of neglecting a simple health issue like –lack of chlorination of the drinking water!

Lastly, I suggest that only one mayor would struggle to improve his responsibility and would have considered his future career before another stone is finally turned on. Oh! Damn! You never know who is right or wrong in our African discipline.

Email: Obseyeh3 @yahoo.com

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