I have paid a short visit recently to Qardho, Karkaar Region of Puntland State. Upon arriving city, I have noticed that the residents here are getting older- elders constituting almost 80% of the population, according to my interculators in town. You would see elders either sitting idly at front of dilapidated teashops or lumbering heavily along poorly maintained stony and rough sidewalks. Asked about why residents are relatively being older and seemingly desolate, I have been told that youth had left the town to seek job opportunities elsewhere in the country or overseas. There is severe economic depression here.There are no government ministries, state agencies, or NGOs in town. Qardho has been traditionally behind the rest of Puntland towns in economic activities. But now it is getting even worse. Life seems to be paralyzed here. It looks Qardho is experiencing the same situation of Nugaal towns outside the state capital, Garowe, where there is a relatively better opportunity to warrant slow evacuation/migration from settlements in Dangoroyo, Eyl and others. In that sense, Puntland State is fast becoming a “city state” too. Sounds familiar? One can also gauge into the devasting impact of drying up of international funds for local NGOs in Puntland State. Thus, development programs and humanitarian projects throughout Puntland State are all nearly frozen. In the mix, Puntland Government barely meets its operating costs. If this trend continues, the negative economic and social impact upon, not only the regions of Karkaar, Nugaal, but beyond, will have long lasting consequences and hardships for the entire residents of Puntland State.
What has happened to the concept of Puntland State economic self-reliance!?
Warsame Policy & Media Network (WAPMEN) 