August 2011
Fatumo, a refugee from Somalia, now volunteers for LWF at the camp she lives in.
My name is Fatumo Hassan Muhumed. I am 37 years old and have three children. I used to live in Mogadishu, but I had so many problems. I left because of the war, like so many people in Somalia.
People are leaving because the war and the drought. They are afraid for their lives and they are hungry.
I took the bus from Somalia, but transport was expensive so I had to sell a gold ring so that I could afford the journey. But it was scary on the roads, it took six days to get here but we drove mainly at night because it was safer.
In the day gangsters and militia troops can see the vehicles and they stop the buses. They rob and rape travellers. By night they can’t see us so clearly because the bus drivers knows how to keep a low profile. They plaster mud on the lights of the buses so the gangsters and militia can’t see us so clearly.
I’d rather risk travelling at night and having an accident in the dark, than being killed or raped during the day.
On arrival at the camp, I received food from the World Food Programme and the UN. Refugees who are already living here have also helped us.
I know I have a right to food and shelter. I know I have many more rights as a refugee but I don’t know what they are yet, my main concern is food and health.
Since being at the camp, I was elected by my community to become a Community Peace and Security Team (CPST) member. I took the position because I wanted to help my community.
I have seen conflict and domestic violence and I want to help solve these issues. I am going to do a good job and LWF is helping to train me.
For now, I want to work well in my community and do a good job as a CPST member. For the future, for my children, I want them to have access to education so that they can have a brighter future.
If I had a message to people in the UK, it would be to remember that we are your brothers and sisters, and that we are suffering. I would ask them to help Somali refugees like me.
