Somali boys wait in line at a World Food program "wet food" distribution center in central Mogadishu. Hundreds of new arrivals, mostly from the hardest hit drought regions in the south, are pouring into the Somali capital in search of food.
People in Somalia do not have enough food and water. They are turning to one another for help. They do not have time to wait for help from their government or relief groups. Somalia is a country in eastern Africa.

Clan, or family, networks have been around a long time in Somalia. Clans help each other out. Now help has come from using technology with the clans on WhatsApp. WhatsApp is a worldwide message program for cell phones. It is popular all around the world. Clans set up their family groups on the program.

“This is the first time this has been done,” says Jamal Abdi Sarman. He works for a help agency.

How Many Families Can They Help?

One family needs about $60 a month for food. People in the group decide how many families they can help. Then they put the money into a bank. Then, the money is sent to Somalia.

A group gets the money and uses it for the families. They usually buy rice, milk and water.

Some people came from Somalia but now live in other countries. Many are in the United States and Canada. Some are in the groups on WhatsApp.

The WhatsApp groups got popular, Sarman says. Everybody is worried about their clan, he says. "With this, you know that at least you have taken care of people who you know.”

There is not enough food because there was not enough rain.

Food And Water Not Coming Fast Enough

Help groups have said that many Somalis are going hungry. Help has been slow to come.

Saad Ali Shire is a leader of Somaliland. It is next to Somalia. He says that food and water are needed quickly.

Somalis have been helping each other in more ways. Farming groups that have been able to grow plants have helped families.

Outside the city of Burao, Barre Mohamed grew some plants. He works for someone who owns a farm.

Mohamed is 35 years old. He helps families who are in a camp. The farm shares water with them from a tank, and food.

Coming To An Area With More Rainfall

Small groups of people and their animals have come to villages such as Carro Malko. There was more rain here than in other places last year. Farmers have some grass.

Alice Ennals works with a group that helps farmers.

People in the village give help without questioning it, she says. They know they might need help someday, she says.

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