2.3.3. Socioeconomic indicators

Unemployment is a big problem in Garowe. Many young people are struggling to find a job. Many international organisations that used to run offices in Garowe moved to Mogadishu in recent years.1120

In Garowe, most people live in houses. The rent of a four-five bedroom house in one of the more expensive neighbourhoods of Garowe (e.g. Mubarak), sufficient for a family of six persons, including toilet, shower, kitchen and, sometimes, a small courtyard, could cost around 400-450 USD/month. The average price for a house sufficient for Somali family would be 250 to 350 USD/month rent. There are also cheaper options for between 150 and 200 USD/month.1121 One room in a house can be rented for around 50 USD/month.1122 Water and electricity are extra, plus food. See section below for further details.

There are three main types of water used by households/people in Garowe: bottled water, purified water delivered by water trucks, and tap water. Bottled water is clean and for human consumption. A cartoon of 42 bottles costs 4 USD. It is consumed by those who are better off. Purified water is delivered by water trucks and stored in specific tanks in the house. It costs 3 to 3.5 USD per ‘foosto’ (which is 200 litres). It is typically used for cooking; it is also for human consumption. Tap water comes in pipes. Most houses in Garowe are connected to the pipe system. It is typically used for washing.1123 Some houses also, as a fourth type, capture rain water in so called ‘berkedo’ (singular berket). These are water catchments usually next to a house. In the dry season, they can be filled by trucks bringing rainwater from elsewhere. The latter is expensive. An average household using purified water and tap water consumes around 30-40 USD/months in water, all together, for human consumption, cooking and washing plus toilet.1124 Throughout the city of Garowe, the monopoly with water delivery lies with Nugal Water Company (Nuwaco). Recently, numerous complaints about the poor water quality and high water bills have been reported.1125

There are two large public and some seven larger private hospitals in Garowe. The two public ones are Garowe General Hospital and Gol Nugaal Maternity Hospital. The General Hospital has around 200 beds. Gol Nugaal Maternity Hospital has ca. 15 beds.1126 Among the private hospitals, Qaran Hospital has around 30 beds, Sixa (Siha) Hospital has around 45 beds and Arafat Hospital has around 60 beds.1127 Besides, there a number of smaller mother and child healthcare centres (MCHs) which are also public. The admission fee in the two public hospitals is 10 USD/per admission. In the private hospitals the admission fees are ca. 15 USD.1128 Treatment for smaller issues including medication (like stomach pain) can cost around 20 USD in a public hospital; the price in a private hospital could be the double or up to 60 USD. A caesarean section in a public hospital in Garowe costs 100-150 USD; in a private hospital it is around 300 USD. Operation and treatment for a more complex leg fracture is 300-400 USD in a public hospital, and up to 1 000 USD in a private hospital.1129 Those who can afford it prefer private hospitals. Some private clinics are run by medical doctors who returned from the diaspora. The quality of services is good. But their capacity is low.1130 There is no specialised treatment for mental health issues available in any of the public or private hospitals in Garowe.1131 There are private ‘rehabilitation’ centres for mentally ill or deviant people sometimes also called ‘dhaqan celis’ (return to culture). These centres are run by sheikhs. Treatment entails mainly reading the Koran to the patients, who are more held like inmates. They are guarded and inhabitants cannot leave. Sometimes physical or psychological abuse happens in those privately run places.1132

Numerous public and private schools exist in Garowe. Additionally, children typically attend Koranic school (dugsi) before or at the same time of going to elementary school. Koranic school starts early morning and goes for some two hours (e.g. between 5:45 and 7:30 am). It costs between 10 and 15 USD/month. Elementary and middle school starts around 8 am. Public elementary and middle school costs around 13-15 USD/month, a private school costs ca. 15-20 USD/month. Public secondary school costs around 20 USD/month, a private one up to 40 USD/month.1133 There is no free schooling in Garowe (or elsewhere in Puntland).1134

On the one hand, there is a shortage of some specific labour force to meet demands;1135 on the other hand, unemployment, especially youth unemployment is an issue. In Garowe, youth unemployment stands at 39 %.1136 The problem is a skill gap in the Garowe job market. There is a construction boom going on, but many Somalis do not have the required skills related to technical trades such as plastering, plumbing, and electrical work. Many companies recruit skilled foreign nationals for positions in the construction and hospitality sectors from Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Yemen, and Kenya.1137 Some IDPs can profit as day labourers from the construction boom. But they face also competition from skilled foreign workers who can operate modern construction equipment and technology.1138 Additionally, some (including Oromo from Ethiopia) engage in farming, growing vegetables nearby Garowe city.1139

Basic costs for living vary along ‘class-lines’. Those better off and earning more spend more on housing and food. Others have to restrain themselves. The income differences in Garowe are stark, yet not as large as in Mogadishu, where very many international organisations have their offices and pay partly very high salaries. In Garowe, a watchman would earn some 200-300 USD/month. A cleaner in an office or a shop/company would earn 200-300 USD/month. A maid who lives in a household and has overnight and food included gets some 100 USD/month. A construction worker earns between 10 and 15 USD/day. If he would find work 20 days a month, he can earn 200-300 USD/month. A soldier or police man earns 200-250 USD/month plus food allowances (rice, flour, oil) worth 30-50 USD/month. A nurse earns between 300 and 400 USD/month and a medical doctor in a public hospital around 1 000 USD/month. In a private clinic, salaries of doctors are higher, up to 1 500 USD/month plus extras (e.g., in case of operations). A school teacher earns between 400 and 500 USD/month. A university lecturer gets 200 USD per course, and he/she could teach up to four courses a month, meaning the salary is around 800 USD/month; during semester breaks it is less. Government officials earn between 100 USD/month for a low-level clerk in an office to around 1 000 USD/month for a director general; in some ministries salaries can be higher.1140

Housing for a poor family of six people costs at least 150 USD/rent per month, for a better off family between 300 and 500 USD/month. Water costs between 25 and 40 USD and electricity for a family, 20-40 USD/month, depending on consumption and equipment. Food would cost between 150 USD/month for a poor family and 350 USD/month for a well-off family. In total, a poor family of six persons would need per month, if a house has to be rented, around 350 USD. Adding to this, there would be the costs for schooling of around 10-20 USD/child, and medical care. A better off family with a substantial ‘middle class’ income would need 700-800 USD/month, plus schooling for children (15-25 USD/child) and medical care. If a house is owned, the monthly costs decrease.1141 Another source confirmed: a medium-sized family, typically consisting of two parents and five children, requires an estimated 600 USD per month to cover basic necessities.1142