Teenage Somali famine refugee gives birth in the bush
africa, breakingnews, news, world 7:15 AM
Dadaab, (Reuters) - Fifteen year-old Habiba Isak had barely recovered from trekking hundreds of kilometres to refuge in Kenya from drought-hit Baidoa, the nerve-centre of Islamist rebels fighting in southern Somalia, when the contractions started.
Out in the open bush on the fringes of the world's biggest refugee camp in Dadaab, eastern Kenya, Habiba gave birth to a baby daughter, Muslima, who may join the exploding number of Somali refugees born outside Somalia and who may never go home.
"It was difficult," said Habiba, an understatement after the ordeal of giving birth several miles from the nearest antiseptic wipe or pain relief, days after escaping drought and civil war.
"She was in labour throughout the night, crying the whole time. There were no trees, no shelter, that's how we've been for the last ten days," said Habiba's mother, Madina Isak, swatting the flies away from her four day-old grand-daughter at a makeshift clinic.
Thousands of Somalis are streaming across the country's porous borders with Kenya and Ethiopia daily, the United Nations says, as they seek to escape the worst drought in decades gripping the Horn of Africa.
Their ability to cope after the rains failed for up to four years has been severely hindered by the al Qaeda-linked al Shabaab militants controlling much of southern and central Somalia.
The rebels persistently demanded tens of thousands of dollars from charities operating in regions under their rule, killed a number of aid workers and imposed a food aid ban at the turn of 2010.
Habiba's husband divorced her four months ago, unable to support her as well as his first wife and their four children once his herds of cattle and goats succumbed to the drought.
"I've never heard of a man do this. It's so rare for a man to divorce his pregnant wife," said Madina, highlighting the fear among some Somalis that this crisis might have an impact on cultural norms.
"Even if they separate, a man is supposed to support the wife," she said.
Ten days after arriving at Dadaab, Habiba, her mother, siblings and baby daughter are still waiting to be formally registered at the camp and receive an emergency shelter and regular food rations.
Set up when the overthrow of the dictator Mohamed Siad Barre in 1991 sparked more than 20 years of internal strife, Dadaab was intended as a temporary solution to the early exodus of refugees. Two decades on, Kenya is increasingly anxious it will become a permanent feature on the map.
"I expect Muslima will stay here," said Madina, watching as her daughter swaddled the newborn in a tatty towel and shawl.
"We can't go back to Somalia, not for now. We have nothing there. We're better off here as refugees."
Out in the open bush on the fringes of the world's biggest refugee camp in Dadaab, eastern Kenya, Habiba gave birth to a baby daughter, Muslima, who may join the exploding number of Somali refugees born outside Somalia and who may never go home.
"It was difficult," said Habiba, an understatement after the ordeal of giving birth several miles from the nearest antiseptic wipe or pain relief, days after escaping drought and civil war.
"She was in labour throughout the night, crying the whole time. There were no trees, no shelter, that's how we've been for the last ten days," said Habiba's mother, Madina Isak, swatting the flies away from her four day-old grand-daughter at a makeshift clinic.
Thousands of Somalis are streaming across the country's porous borders with Kenya and Ethiopia daily, the United Nations says, as they seek to escape the worst drought in decades gripping the Horn of Africa.
Their ability to cope after the rains failed for up to four years has been severely hindered by the al Qaeda-linked al Shabaab militants controlling much of southern and central Somalia.
The rebels persistently demanded tens of thousands of dollars from charities operating in regions under their rule, killed a number of aid workers and imposed a food aid ban at the turn of 2010.
Habiba's husband divorced her four months ago, unable to support her as well as his first wife and their four children once his herds of cattle and goats succumbed to the drought.
"I've never heard of a man do this. It's so rare for a man to divorce his pregnant wife," said Madina, highlighting the fear among some Somalis that this crisis might have an impact on cultural norms.
"Even if they separate, a man is supposed to support the wife," she said.
Ten days after arriving at Dadaab, Habiba, her mother, siblings and baby daughter are still waiting to be formally registered at the camp and receive an emergency shelter and regular food rations.
Set up when the overthrow of the dictator Mohamed Siad Barre in 1991 sparked more than 20 years of internal strife, Dadaab was intended as a temporary solution to the early exodus of refugees. Two decades on, Kenya is increasingly anxious it will become a permanent feature on the map.
"I expect Muslima will stay here," said Madina, watching as her daughter swaddled the newborn in a tatty towel and shawl.
"We can't go back to Somalia, not for now. We have nothing there. We're better off here as refugees."
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