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UHUBSO Sanaag Regional Report13 January 2006 Sanaag is a remote eastern region of Somaliland, which bordered by approximately 380 kilometres of Red Sea coastline to the north and locates the border between Somaliland and eastern regions of Somalia. The region is divided into three districts: Erigavo, Badhan and Ceel AF weyn (El Afweyne), with the towns of Erigavo as the regional capital and Badhan and El Afweyne as the district capitals. In terms of development, the Sanaag has been almost totally neglected by both the former central governments of Somalia and current Somaliland government and by International agencies and other NGOs. There are no surfaced roads in the region there are limited public service in the towns and mostly none existence in the villages. Sanaag Regional Hospital can easily be ranked the worst in the world. In health sector, health facilities are almost totally absent from villages to district capitals and there is a skeleton health service in the region capital. No basic medical facilities exists in the district hospitals and even the three district hospitals are virtually non-functional due to shortages of staff, supplies equipment, drugs, fuel and vehicles, and almost total lack of ongoing training, supervision, evaluation and maintenance equipment. There is acute shortage of surgical, orthopaedic, ophthalmic and gynaecology/obstetric equipment in all hospitals. Many health problems are evident in the region, the maternal mortality rate and incidence of TB are extremely high, and the infant mortality rate and incidence of vaccine preventable diseases, childhood communicable diseases, anaemia, malnutrition, respiratory tract infections, diarrhoeas and problems associated with pregnancy and childbirth are serious health problems. Education is lacking well behind the other parts of Somaliland due to shortage of teachers, school equipment and building. UHUBSO is the only organisation assisting Erigavo Secondary School, Its supplementary salary program, of $50 per teacher per month has saved the school of 1200 pupils from closure in 2004. Unemployment is over warlmingly high, Majority of people are depending on international remittance from relatives abroad. The economic engine is hardly moving. Yes Hospitals and schools do require immediate international aid, but what most needed is long-term development strategy to help and encourage locals to discover their homeland opportunities and to train and equip to fulfil themselves, to live and to contribute effectively to their economy and the global at large. Potential Economic development of the Region and its obstacles Sanaag Region is the biggest region in Somaliland and has more potential economic development than any other region in Somaliland if it is fully developed. The followings are indication of the region's economic opportunities and obstacles. Agriculture The Golis Mountains of Sanaag Region receives relatively good rainfall, about 300-400mm per anum. The Golis Mountain waterfalls are the source of numerous streams between the mountains that provide enough water for livestock and human consumption, as well as crop production throughout the year. In addition, the area has a unique cool climate, which is favorable to crop production, especially horticulture. Potatoes, tomatoes, cabbages and onions produced in the area could be made more profitable. There are good markets in the main towns of Somaliland and Somalia. Therefore, It is important to explore existing opportunities in the sector and verify ways of tackling current constraints such as. • Lack of horticulture Skills • Lack of Irrigation equipment • Uncontrolled land erodes due to Water run-off from the Golis Mountains • Lack of seeds • Water management • Poor production • Marketing skills • Absence of transport infrastructures. Fishery and Coastal towns' access. Maydh, Hiis and Laasqory are the costal towns of Sanaag region, with huge varieties of fish deposit, yet this has not been exploited, specially in Maydh and Hiis which is only 50 miles away from the Capital of the Region Erigavo. Erigavo and surrounding rural area has estimated of 150,000 inhabitants, a potential market for fresh fish. Maydh also use to be the main port of the region with a vibrant import export trade with Arabian Golf region, which has now came to stand still due to luck of road access into the costal towns is the main obstacle of costal economic development. It is vital and worth immediate attention to re-establish this sector through international aid and local initiative. Frankincense Sanaag region has one of the most valuable and rare commodity, Frankincense has a global market. However growers do not share its high margin profits made by many middleman and the final retailers. The majority of the growers exchanges one Kilo of Frankincense with one kilo of rice or sugar. This is equivalent a fraction of one in thirties, 3.3% of its word trade price. This injustice trade can be over come through fair trade program and uniting the growers as a business community which will enable them to set profitable prices for their products. Livestock The core of the Somaliland economy had been livestock, with about 3 million head of cattle, sheep and goats exported annually. But ban on livestock exports following the Rift Valley fever. Sanaag region has it fair share of economic gloominess. Many livestock farmers has move in into towns with out jobs. Sanaag region is surely one can not deal with this problem alone but alternative venue to capitalize livestock products such as hides is worth investigating. Minerals and Coal deposits Recent geological surveys indicate that Somaliland has abundant deposits of gemstones, from emerald to aquamarine, ruby and sapphire as well as vast amounts of garnet, quartz and opal as well as lesser-known minerals such as titanite and vesuvianite Somaliland is part of the Mozambique belt and prior to the continental drift 900 million years ago, was in the same area as Madagascar, Tanzania, Sri Lanka and India,(1) Golis Mountains in Sanaag region is part of the Mozambique belt. Sanaag regions is said to have an abundant supply of minerals and coal deposits. The livestock ban era had forced many people to search Gemstones as a source of income but the luck of knowledge and excavation skills made impossible to turn this dream into reality. Basic Gemstone training and excavation skills and equipment would help many Sanaag region people to over come poverty and lead healthy and balance diet life style. This can be achieved through local people and private partnership as well as international aid. UHUBSO (UK) |
