Abstract

Market or grocery shopping outlets and basic social service facilities/delivery in few out
lying neighbourhoods in Burao- Jarmalka, M Ali, Tuurta etc- were surveyed based on
field visits/observations and interview of selected households as well as some discussions
with neighborhood residents. A semi-structured questionnaire was used for interviewing
30 randomly selected pastoralists. Informal discussions were also held with a group of
HH in the surveyed n-hoods as well as with the development agents in the localities. The
collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics.

The survey showed that there are no market/grocery and social service (health in
particular) outlets in all above neighborhoods. The main ((and only) market and health
outlets servicing neighborhoods in discussion are old market and hospital in down town
Burao. Besides, transport to these outlets is either non-existent or not reliable or very
crowded. Service delivery and access are also extremely poor and expensive too. Apart
from few private pharmacies and small rundown shops, there are no any other social
services and support in these neighborhoods. Thus, lack of social service facilities and
outlets remains to be the main problem issues, among others, in out lying neighborhoods.
Hence, more emphasis should be given to build and develop outlets, create meaningful
and accessible services and management of developed structures/services. Programs and
efforts to tackle and address present lack of facilities/services must be prioritized by all
development SH in the region, particularly development and authority institutions. This is
particularly needed in order to generate new businesses, jobs and reverse the present
precarious situation on the ground.

Materials and methods

General characteristics of surveyed neighborhoods

This survey/study was carried out in couple of neighborhoods in Burao, Togdher. The
City (area) is characterized by high population influx from rural or pastoral districts in the
region. Most of them are former pastoralists who either failed or abundaned LS rearing.
The neighborhoods are predominantly occupied by jobless/unemployed households
whose livelihood is mainly dependent on support from close relatives and others. They
mainly consist of women, young and old people. The city is willfully neglected and
isolated by both development and authorities for more than a decade now.

Survey methodology

The survey/assessment was carried out in 10-15 October 2009 and it was based on house
visits and interviews of selected households and group discussions with the residents
(including different age groups). A semi-structured questionnaire was prepared and used
for interviewing randomly selected households A total of 50 households were
interviewed. During the assessment discussions were held with relevant officials and
other local SH. In addition to the structured questionnaire, informal discussions were held
with a group of households in the area assessed. The collected data were analyzed using
descriptive statistics. The following were the main focal points in the assessment.

-Lack of market/shopping and basic service outlets in neighbourhoods

-The daily early morning trips and hassles in going to central market which is over
crowded, unsafe, unhygienic and very far as well.
-The associated transport costs and related issues.
-The high possibilities of becoming a victim of theft, accidents and unexplained price
hikes as few retailers dominate the market.
-Lack of business and employment activities and opportunities in NH.
-Side discussions on how to tackle and address above problem issues.
-Explored way forward in developing market facilities and other basic service outlets in
neighbourhoods.
-Whether local HH will use or setup their own businesses if a local market was built.
-What type of groceries and services will HH like to find in such facilities and outlets?
And so on.

Results and Discussions

Table-1: This table shows number of items bought, cost of transport and journey times of
surveyed HH (N=50) in using old down town market.

Table-1
Description Mean Range Combined HH
Totals,per day.
1-No of items bought 7.19 4-11 357
2-Cost of transport 4,360 0-8,000 so.sh 218,016
3-Journey times 52.0 10-90 2625
Source: CLASS, Burao, Togdher. Datet: October 2009.

This table clearly indicate the following key points or issues:

-The average monthly transport costs per HH is 130,800 so.sh ($ 10).

(Though not much, but $10 is far too much burden for many HH whose monthly income
is between $50-100, or may less for some , $20-50. The main reason why more than half
of surveyed HH are forced to walk to the market on daily basis.)

-More alarmingly, HH pay such daily costs and time (roughly one hour) only to buy very
few groceries/items, 4-11, each day. According to participants, this happening because of
i) majority of items are meat, milk and perishable goods, and most HH don’t have
refrigeration facility to store them at home ii) most HH either earn their LH on daily
basis or simply can’t afford to buy items in advance.

Main other side discussions

During the survey many other issues were discussed in which local and HH participants
managed to highlight their concerns and views as follows.

-The daily early morning trips and hassles in going to central market which is over
crowded, unsafe, unhygienic and very far as well.
-The associated transport costs and related issues.
-The high possibilities of becoming a victim of theft, accidents and unexplained price
hikes as few retailers dominate the market.
-According to some participants, current retail prices of meat and other basics does not
reflect the actual costs. They believe that retailers in this market are ruthless and ripping
them off. This why it is common to see some are selling meat under trees in various place
in these neighborhoods
-We found out that neighbourhood residents are funding some common social
programmes. For example, the only police station in these four neighbourhoods was and,
still is, funded by local residents, including the wages of officers manning it. Residents
also fund 8 night security patrol officials in their neighbourhood.
-Clearly, local authority has abdigated their responsibility to service local residents and
it’s practically impossible for local HH to funds all common social needs/service in their
neighbourhoods.
-Needless to mention, we presented to and confronted this with relevant local officials in
Burao. Their indifference and often stated excuses were obvious and apparent. We also
presented above to development programs/officials in the area and they were equally
useless and would rather prefer wasting resources on activities that no body wants or
understand. Despite our present efforts, it is very difficult to see and fing out what they
actually do
-In brief, for further details and information, please see and refer to below survey data. Or
contact CLASS at classdevelopment@gmail.com , Based on above survey result and
discussions, CLASS has developed a program proposal not only build market outlet/s in
these neighbourhoods, but also create sustainable basic services for local SH which will
be funded by income generated from market facility/ies.
Survey Data of Urban HH’s Daily Trips To The Central Market in Burao.
(From Few Out Lying Neighbourhoods- Tuurta, Jarmalka, Lafoley and MA)

HH No of No/type Method Cost of Journey Main

No. trips of items of transport time/min problems,
per bought transport per day. s obstacles
day. (So/sh)
1 1 5 Bus 6,000 30 B waiting
2 1 8 Walking 0 90 Costs
3 1 9 Walking 0 60 Expensive
4 1 7 Walking 0 80 Unclean
5 1 9 Bus 8,000 40 Busy
6 1 6 Walking 0 90 Crowded
7 1 5 Bus 6,000 40 Crowded
8 1 8 Bus 6,000 30 Early
9 1 9 Walking 0 90 Time
10 1 7 Walking 0 70 Walking
11 1 8 Lift 0 20 Unsafe
12 1 9 Walking 0 60 Wet days
13 1 6 Bus 6,000 35 Theft
14 1 5 Walking 0 60 When
sick
15 1 9 Car 15.000 20 Parking
16 1 6 Walking 0 60 Crowded
17 1 5 Walking 0 60 Crowded
18 1 5 Bus 8,000 40 Early
19 1 8 Walking 0 80 Crowded
20 1 9 Bus 8,000 40 Danger
21 1 7 Bus 6,000 30 Crowded
22 1 5 Walking 0 70 Theft
23 1 8 Walking 0 60 Unsafe
24 1 9 Bus 6,000 40 Crowded
25 1 7 Walking 0 60 Tiring
26 1 5 Bus 6,000 30 Costs
27 1 8 Bus 6,000 40 Costs
28 1 9 Walking 0 50 Time
29 1 7 Walking 0 60 Time
30 1 5 Bus 8,000 40 B waiting
31 1 8 Walking 0 60 Early trip
32 1 9 Bus 6,000 30 Crowded
33 1 7 Bus 6,0000 40 Crowded
34 1 5 Walking 0 70 Unsafe
35 1 8 Walking 0 80 Heat
36 1 9 Bus 6,000 40 Costs
37 1 7 Walking 0 60 Tiring
38 1 11 Car 20,000 30 Costs
39 1 6 Lift 0 20 Pick pock
40 1 7 Walking 0 60 Uneven R
41 1 6 Bus 6,000 40 Costs
42 1 5 Walking 0 80 Time
43 1 4 Walking 0 70 Unsafe
44 1 9 Walking 0 80 Unsafe
45 1 7 Walking 0 80 Time
46 1 10 Car 20,000 10 Theft
47 1 6 Bus 6,000 40 Crowded
48 1 7 Bus 6,000 40 Crowded
49 1 6 Bus 8,000 40 Expensive
50 1 9 Walking 0 80 Time
Totals 50 357 218,015 2625
Mean 1 7.19 ---- 4,360 52.6 --
Range 1-1 4-11 Walk-car 0-8,000 10-90

Sourse: CLASS, Burao, Togdher.