A new slaughter house opened in Fafan zone in Ethiopia’s Somali Region in May has created jobs for 50 local people who were struggling to make ends meet.

Abdirahman Nur Ibrahim, 43, is happy with the job opportunity and is earning 17,000 birr ($175) a month, enabling him to become self-sufficient and provide for his wife and six children.

“My life has changed a lot now that I have got a job. I was dependent on others but now that I get my salary we buy our own food and take care of everything ourselves,” he said.

He used to walk up to 20 kilometres looking for casual work on construction sites, making less than three dollars a day. Previously, he was a farmer but drought and water shortage ruined his 10-hectare farm and also killed off the last of his 50 goats last year.

Abdirahman worked on the site construction and was delighted to be offered a job afterwards as a general cleaner in the slaughter house. He plans to save some money to revive his farm.

“I use part of the money I earn to buy food, while the rest is used for the children’s education. Our situation has improved, and so has our morale,” he said.

Another local man, Ahmed Hubi Ibrahim, 40, is earning $150 after being trained to run the slaughter house machinery and monitor the processing of meat. This is the first formal job he has had in his life.

“My life and that of my family has changed 100 per cent. There’s a huge difference between someone getting a salary at the end of the month and someone who’s not getting anything,” he said.

Ahmed had sent four of his six children to his relatives because he was unable to meet their needs. They have come home now that he can afford to support them.

“My children are now getting an education. If you don’t have an income you can’t buy books or pens,” he said.

The director of Jigjiga Export Slaughter House (JESH), Jamal Arab, said the abattoir is the first in the area. They slaughter 50 goats and two camels a day and hire local people to slaughter, clean, and guard.

“We get our employees from within our community. We gave some slots to displaced persons and those from impoverished families. There are also other positions that need technical knowledge such as (veterinary) doctors who understand slaughtering of the animals,” he said.

They plan to employ more people from within the community, especially from drought-hit families who are struggling to survive.

Source: Radio Ergo