For Habiibo Elmi Mohamed, a 40-year-old mother of five, life once revolved around her family, farming, and livestock in Ceel Cali Axmed village, under Aadan Yabaal District in Somalia’s Middle Shabelle region. Together with her husband, Jeele Xuseen Xasan, and their children, she cultivated beans and sorghum and raised a small number of goats. Their modest livelihood provided food, stability, and hope for the future.
That stability was shattered by a combination of conflict and drought that swept through the area. During armed clashes between Al-Shabaab and Federal Government forces, Habiibo’s husband was tending the family’s livestock when a stray bullet struck him in the head. Despite efforts to save his life, he passed away shortly afterward. The devastating news reached Habiibo through a phone call, leaving her and her children overwhelmed by grief and uncertainty.
“My husband was the backbone of our family,” Habiibo recalls. “When I learned of his death, I did not know how I would care for my children or where we would go.”
Fearing further insecurity and unable to cope with the worsening conditions in their village, Habiibo and her children were forced to flee their home. With support from relatives, they traveled to Gubadley District in Banadir Region and eventually settled in Buurcad IDP Camp.
Displacement brought a new set of hardships. Having lost both her husband and the family’s primary source of income, Habiibo suddenly found herself solely responsible for supporting five children. Access to food, clean water, and essential household items was limited, and the family depended heavily on the generosity of relatives and neighbors to survive.
Life in the camp was difficult. Every day was a struggle to secure enough food and basic necessities, while the emotional burden of losing a husband and father continued to weigh heavily on the family.
At this critical moment, KARDO AID became the first humanitarian organization to respond to the family’s needs through the Integrated Emergency Response Project in Gubadley District, funded by Secours Islamique France (SIF).
Recognizing the family’s vulnerability following displacement and the loss of their primary breadwinner, KARDO AID provided a comprehensive package of life-saving assistance aimed at addressing their immediate food, shelter, and hygiene needs.
The family received emergency food assistance consisting of 25 kg of rice, 25 kg of flour, 12.5 kg of sugar, 5 kg of pulses, 3 liters of cooking oil, 2kg of dates, and 500 grams of salt, helping to improve their access to nutritious meals and reduce the risk of food insecurity.
To support safe and dignified living conditions in the displacement camp, the family also received WASH and Shelter/NFI assistance, including a hygiene kit containing 200 water purification tablets (Aqua Tabs), five bars of soap, one jerrycan, one bucket, and a menstrual hygiene management kit. In addition, they received emergency shelter materials comprising one
plastic sheet and two ropes, as well as essential non-food items including one sleeping mat and one blanket.
The assistance enabled Habiibo and her children to meet their most urgent needs, improve their living conditions, and regain a sense of dignity and security during a period of profound hardship and uncertainty. The support arrived when the family needed it most.
The food assistance ensured that Habiibo could provide regular meals for her children, while the household items improved their living conditions and restored a measure of dignity. Most importantly, the assistance eased some of the overwhelming pressure she faced as the sole caregiver for her family.
“After losing my husband, I felt overwhelmed by grief and uncertainty about how I would care for my children,” says Habiibo. “The support provided by KARDO AID gave us hope and helped us meet our basic needs. We are sincerely grateful for the assistance and kindness shown to our family during this difficult time.”
Today, while many challenges remain, Habiibo and her children are gradually rebuilding their lives. The support they received helped restore a sense of stability and hope after months of hardship and uncertainty.
Their story highlights the profound impact that timely humanitarian assistance can have on families affected by conflict, displacement, and loss. By providing life-saving support when it was needed most, KARDO AID helped a vulnerable mother and her children regain dignity, resilience, and hope for a better future.
As Habiibo looks ahead, she dreams of a future where her children can continue their education, live in safety, and grow up with opportunities that were disrupted by conflict. Continued support in livelihoods, education, shelter, and psychosocial well-being will be essential in helping the family move toward self-reliance and long-term recovery. Habiibo’s journey is a powerful reminder that behind every humanitarian response is a family striving to recover, rebuild, and reclaim hope.
“After losing my husband, I felt overwhelmed by grief and uncertainty about how I would care for my children. The support provided by KARDO AID gave us hope and helped us meet our basic needs. We are sincerely grateful for the assistance and kindness shown to our family during this difficult time.” —
Habiibo Elmi Mohamed
Although significant challenges remain, the assistance provided by KARDO AID has helped Habiibo and her children regain a sense of stability and hope. Continued support in the areas of livelihoods, education, shelter, and psychosocial well-being will further strengthen the family’s resilience and help them move toward self-reliance.
Habiibo’s story demonstrates how timely humanitarian assistance can help vulnerable families recover from the devastating effects of conflict, displacement, and loss, while restoring dignity and hope for a better future.
This is the story of Habiibo Elmi Mohamed and her family, whose lives were shattered by armed conflict, displacement, and the tragic loss of their husband and father due to a stray bullet during clashes between Al-Shabaab and Federal Government forces in Ceel Cali Axmed village under Aadan Yabaal District in the Middle Shabelle region.