A three-day book fair in Garowe drew crowds of students, teachers and families, with stalls selling Somali-language novels, poetry collections, textbooks and children's picture books.The fair also hosted poetry readings, panel discussions on writing in Somali and storytelling sessions for younger children, which organisers said were among the busiest events of the week.<h2>Demand for Somali-language books</h2>Booksellers said children's titles in Somali sold particularly well, reflecting growing interest among parents who want their children to read in their mother tongue. "Parents are asking for more stories with Somali names, places and pictures," said one stallholder.Young writers used the event to present their first books, many of them self-published. A university student who released a collection of short stories said the fair gave her a chance to meet readers face to face and hear their reactions.Teachers attending the fair said it was a rare chance to buy books for classroom libraries in one place. Several schools brought pupils on organised trips, and some booksellers offered discounts to students and teachers who showed a school card.Organisers said they hope to make the fair an annual event and to bring in more publishers from other cities. They also plan to collect donated books for school libraries in rural districts, where reading materials remain scarce, and to run writing workshops for secondary school students.This is demo content for testing the Warar website. It is not a real news report.

A three-day book fair in Garowe drew students, teachers and local writers, with Somali-language titles, poetry readings and children's story sessions.

Garowe book fair draws crowds of young readers and local wri

Organisers said Somali-language books for children were among the first to sell out as families queued at the stalls.

Garowe book fair draws crowds of young readers and local writers

A network of community-run water kiosks has opened in villages outside Baidoa, giving families a reliable source of clean water close to home.The kiosks are fed by a borehole and a solar-powered pump, with water piped to taps in the centre of each village. Before they opened, women and children often walked for hours each day to reach shallow wells and seasonal ponds.<h2>Run by the community</h2>Each kiosk is managed by a village committee that collects a small fee per jerrycan. The money pays for pump repairs and a caretaker, while households that cannot afford to pay are allowed to collect water free of charge."Our daughters used to miss school to fetch water. Now they are in class in the morning," said a mother in one of the villages. Local health workers said clean water should also help reduce stomach illnesses among young children.Teachers at the village school said attendance had improved since the kiosks opened, particularly among girls. The school has also been connected to the network, so pupils can drink clean water during the day and wash their hands before meals.Elders have asked for more kiosks in surrounding settlements and for troughs where herders can water livestock without crowding the taps. Committee members say they also plan to train young people to carry out basic maintenance so the system keeps running for years to come.This is demo content for testing the Warar website. It is not a real news report.

Community-run water kiosks have opened in villages near Baidoa, cutting long daily walks for women and children and giving families clean water.

New water kiosks bring clean water closer to villages near B

Village committees manage the kiosks, charging a small fee for upkeep while letting the poorest households collect water for free.

New water kiosks bring clean water closer to villages near Baidoa

Solar street lights are being installed along main roads and market streets in several Hargeisa neighbourhoods, part of a local government project to improve lighting without adding to the city's power bills.Each lamp has its own panel and battery, so it keeps working during power cuts. Workers have so far focused on junctions, school routes and the lanes around busy markets, where residents had long asked for better lighting.<h2>Longer evenings for traders</h2>Shopkeepers said the change was visible within days. "Before, we closed when it got dark. Now customers come after evening prayers and we stay open longer," said a woman who sells household goods near one of the newly lit junctions.Parents said children walking home from evening Quran classes now use well-lit streets, and neighbourhood committees reported that more families were out in the evening than before. Some young people have started using the lit pavements for evening walks and informal football.Electricians trained under the project will maintain the lamps, cleaning dust off the panels and replacing batteries when needed. Several of the technicians are young people from the same neighbourhoods, who say the work has given them a practical skill and a steady income.A local council official said the next phase would extend the lights to newer districts on the edge of the city. The council has also asked residents to report broken or damaged lamps through neighbourhood committees so that repairs can be made quickly.This is demo content for testing the Warar website. It is not a real news report.

Solar street lights are going up in busy Hargeisa neighbourhoods, helping traders stay open later and making evening walks safer for residents.

Solar street lights brighten busy neighbourhoods across Harg

Shopkeepers and families say the new lamps have changed evening life on streets that used to fall dark at sunset.

Solar street lights brighten busy neighbourhoods across Hargeisa

The Gu rains have started this week in parts of southern Somalia, residents and farmers told Warar.Farmers along the river valleys said the rains arrived on time and that they have begun preparing their fields. Herders added that pasture and water points are recovering.<h2>Flood warnings</h2>Agencies monitoring the weather urged communities in low-lying areas to stay alert, as heavy downpours can cause river flooding. Residents are also encouraged to store water for the dry months ahead.This is demo content for testing the Warar website. It is not a real news report.

The Gu rains have begun in several southern regions, bringing relief to farmers and herders, while agencies warn of possible flooding near rivers.

Gu rains begin across parts of southern Somalia

Farmers welcome the start of the Gu season as agencies warn of flood risks.

Garowe book fair draws crowds of young readers and local writers

Demand for Somali-language books

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