Mogadishu (WDN) — A Somali family has been struck by tragedy after consuming suspected contaminated camel meat and bone marrow brought from Eldheer in Galgaduud region, leaving two children dead and three others hospitalized in Mogadishu.

The family was brought to the capital on Thursday after several members reportedly became seriously ill. According to information obtained by WardheerNews, two family members have died, including one who died in Eldheer before the family was transferred to Mogadishu.

Three other children—17-year-old Nimco Hirsi Osman, 15-year-old Omar Hirsi Osman and 10-year-old Dahir Hirsi Osman—are receiving treatment at Dr. Dufle Hospital in Mogadishu.

Their father, Hirsi Osman Omar, told Universal Somali TV that the family lives in a village near Eldheer. He said his children became sick after eating camel meat and bone marrow that had reportedly been kept for some time.

After seeking treatment in Eldheer, the family was reportedly advised to travel to Mogadishu because adequate medical care was not available locally. The father brought the surviving children to Dr. Dufle Hospital, where doctors are continuing to monitor their condition.

Dr. Osman Dufle said the children appeared to have suffered severe symptoms consistent with poisoning. He reported that their eyes had turned greenish and that their urine had become red, while one child’s liver had reportedly become swollen.

“Their eyes turned green, and the liver became swollen. Within six days, two of them died. We tested for jaundice but did not find it. When we interviewed the parents, they told us the children had been given the suspected poisoned food,” Dr. Dufle said. The tragedy has left the family devastated, while doctors continue efforts to stabilize the three surviving children.

The incident has also raised concerns about food safety and the risks associated with consuming meat or animal products that have been improperly stored or left for prolonged periods, particularly in remote communities where access to emergency medical services and diagnostic facilities remains limited.

For the grieving family, however, the immediate reality is far more painful: two children are dead, three remain under medical care, and a meal intended to feed a family has instead brought unimaginable loss.

WardheerNews