Somalia: Newly-wed couple spent their wedding day helping poor families

GALKAYO, Puntland- A Somali couple who tied the knot in Mudug region last Thursday have celebrated their wedding day distributing food aid to poor families affected by drought, Garowe Online report.

Liban Jama and Aisha Abdisalam, who got married in Galkayo city, the regional capital of Mudug region, have decided not to hold the usual wedding ceremony but instead share their joy with the drought victims.

In an interview with Radio Garowe (RG), Liban revealed that they opted to help their fellow brothers and sisters, and lead others of doing the same in providing aid to needed families.

Jama noted that he and his newly bride are working in humanitarian projects and encouraged newly-wed couples to end unnecessary ceremonies and help their communities amid worsening drought conditions that affected thousands of families.

“Our wedding came in a difficult time, and we agreed to be a leading example for newly-wed couples to share their special day with less fortune people,” he added.

The wedding event was hugely hailed in the social media as thousands congratulated the couple for their efforts to encourage people to assist needed people in the community.  

Last month, Somalia has declared this drought a national disaster, an estimated 6 million people in Somalia, or about half the population, need aid amid warnings of a full-blown famine.

Two consecutive seasons of poor rainfall, longer in some areas, have caused large-scale crop failures, the U.N. humanitarian agency says.

GAROWEONLINE