Berbera - The socio-economic situation

Berbera, a coastal town, was hit hard by the civil war in Somaliland between 1988 and 1991, in which nearly 60,000 people were killed and half a million became refugees. The infrastructure was virtually destroyed and many cities were completely razed to the ground.

Berbera is characterised by a comparatively high HIV/AIDS rate (2.6% in Berbera compared to 1.4% countrywide average), extreme poverty and a high unemployment rate. On average, eight to nine children live in one household, which is far above the national average of six children. This number is a result of a high birth rate (4.46 children) as well as the fact that a lot of families are taking in orphans. Read more...