Region
Bay
Bay is a farming region in South West State, with Baidoa (Baydhabo) as its main city and about 1.25 to 1.8 million people. Baidoa hosts more displaced people than any other district IOM assessed, over 730,000 in 2024, and families there face evictions, drought and fighting.
Who lives there
Estimates for September 2024 run from about 1.25 million people (IPC) to 1.8 million (IOM). The region has four districts: Baidoa, Buur Hakaba, Qansax Dheere and Diinsoor. Baidoa serves as the working capital of South West State. Most people speak Maay. Baidoa district hosted 731,492 displaced people in September 2024, the most of any district IOM assessed (EUAA 2025).
Work and money
Families farm sorghum and keep animals (EUAA 2025). In the Baidoa camps:
- A small shop earns $3 to $5 a day, and a vegetable stall up to $5.
- Water costs $0.25 for 20 litres at private wells.
- Private school costs $5 a month per child (Radio Ergo, Sep 2026).
Who governs
The federal government and South West State hold the towns of Baidoa, Buur Hakaba, Berdale, Qansax Dheere and Diinsoor, with Ethiopian troops in Diinsoor. Al-Shabaab holds Lego, Labatan Jirow, Bulo-Fulay and over half of rural Bay. It besieged Baidoa for nearly two weeks in July 2023 (EUAA 2025). Camp committees speak for residents, and Islamic Relief has run livelihood support in the camps (Radio Ergo).
What people face now
- July 2026: more than 160 displaced families were evicted from Iraroog camp in Baidoa when the land was sold. More than 300 children lost their school, and a free health centre closed (Radio Ergo).
- Displacement: conflict displaced 23,722 people from April 2023 to March 2025. Local fighting in Diinsoor in March 2024 displaced 1,371 households.
- Violence: 670 incidents and 621 deaths from April 2023 to March 2025, 431 of them in Baidoa (EUAA 2025).
- Drought: animals are dying of drought and disease. One family lost 27 animals (Radio Ergo).
Top needs
- Secure shelter and records for evicted displaced families in Baidoa.
- Water at prices families can pay.
- Schools and health care lost after evictions.
- Income to restart small shops and stalls.
- Services in Maay, the language most people speak.
What we don't know yet
Wages outside the camps, and figures for 2026 displacement. If you know, use "Fix this page".
Sources
- EUAA 2025 · euaa.europa.eu
- Radio Ergo, Sep 2026 · radioergo.org
Gathered in our research record “Somalia regions”. Wikipedia is used only as a backup.
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