She shudders on the reminiscences: “I wiped my tears with my veil and went residence on foot with out shopping for something.”
However earlier this yr Abdirahman traded her harmful errands for online shopping, because of the World Food Programme‘s “humanitarian e-commerce” system in Somalia — a part of its international shift from distributing meals to handing out money.
Conceived as a approach to defend girls in Somalia from safety threats — be it bombings within the capital metropolis or harassment in a camp — it’s also now serving to to forestall giant crowds gathering at assist distribution websites through the COVID-19 pandemic.
Abdirahman compares the costs of merchandise resembling cooking oil and salt supplied by retailers on an app referred to as e-Store created by WFP, spending the month-to-month $60 stipend she receives from the company as she sees match. This frees up time for working as a cleaner and for childcare, she mentioned.
Her neighbour Ilhan Adow, who additionally makes use of the WFP app, says she makes use of the hours she saves to breastfeed her youngsters, do chores and relaxation.
WFP launched e-Store in 2018 however solely launched residence supply in April this yr, a month after COVID-19 reached Somalia. WFP sped up implementation of this selection in order that needy households might cut back their potential publicity to the virus, mentioned Cesar Arroyo, head of WFP within the nation.
DIGNITY
Years of battle, and the specter of al Qaeda-linked Islamists battling to overthrow the federal government, depart many Somalis depending on assist.
However e-Store has modified the dynamic, mentioned Arroyo.
“Years in the past, once we have been handing out meals, folks accepted it however you may see of their physique language how the dignity wasn’t there,” he mentioned. “Now… they’re those deciding the place and what to purchase.”
Lots of of outlets promote on the app. Transactions are recorded to adjust to the federal government tax system. Purchases are verified on supply utilizing biometrics.
Six million {dollars} in transactions, and greater than 51,000 deliveries, have gone by means of the system.
It operates in Mogadishu, together with in camps for folks pressured from their houses by violence, and in all Somalia’s principal cities.
WFP has lengthy used digital vouchers for distributing money assist for Syrian refugees, however Somalia is the primary place the place it has used an app and residential supply system.
The U.N. company, which received the Nobel Peace Prize this yr, hopes to roll out on-line purchasing elsewhere, mentioned Arroyo. “If it really works in Somalia it could actually work wherever else.”
Practically 100,000 out of the five hundred,000 folks receiving money assist month-to-month from the United Nations in Somalia are utilizing e-Store. The variety of app customers has doubled, from 47,000 on the finish of March, earlier than residence supply launched, to 94,000 by late October.
Abdirahman mentioned COVID-19 was but another excuse she most well-liked purchasing on-line. “We have been afraid of catching corona,” she mentioned. “We have been fortunate to get this utility.”
One businessman mentioned his gross sales have elevated by 80% since his firm started promoting meals on the app, now that individuals dwelling in camps on the outskirts of Mogadishu can entry his merchandise by way of the app.
“They used to come back an extended approach to our outlets,” mentioned Ahmed Nur Abdullahi Siyad. “Now they do not should pay bus fare.”
(Reporting by Abdi Sheikh; Extra reporting by Nazanine Moshiri in Nairobi; Writing by Maggie Fick; Modifying by Gareth Jones)
