A key connection between the villages where we work has collapsed, significantly affecting the communities and complicating our work.

This bridge over the Shabelle River could not take the weight of a heavy truck that was travelling across it. We understand that there were no deaths and the driver was able to escape the truck and is safe.

The bridge is a vital link between communities on either side of this wide river. The next closest bridge is tens of kilometers away, and is not an option for many people. The government is working to put in a temporary bridge as they assess how to move forward, and for now there are some people who can access boats to cross the river.

The lack of bridge throws a wrench in many aspects of life in this area, including our staff’s ability to travel between the villages that we support. Our hope is that the work that we have done in the past decade has helped the communities be more resilient as they adapt to different ways of travel.