Mama Halima

Mama Halima

Mama Halima is what she is often referred to. Shamso Dahir is a 60 year old woman who has lived in Dadaab refugee camp for the last 14 years. Covered by her Hijab, one would never tell she has an artificial leg.

Painful past

Shamso says at her age, she has been through it all. Originally from Kismayu, she was married with 5 kids. Most of that changed when she moved to Dadaab, she now is divorced with 2 kids. In 1997, with her family she left Kismayu in the hopes of getting to Dadaab but her journey was delayed when she was wounded by a piece of metal. She was treated in a local hospital in Kismayu but her wound was infected so her leg was amputated.

She took her amputation well saying she was in so much pain and it was a much better option saying she felt relieved. After recovery from her amputation, she continued with her journey to Dadaab to look for her family whom she had separated from after her injury. In 2002, when she finally got to Dadaab she reunited with her family who she says were shocked at her condition but were very supportive.

In 2006, she lost three of her kids after a cholera outbreak in the camp. She says the loss of her children took a huge toll on her family. Her husband as a result returned to Somalia leaving her to fend for the remaining 2 children alone.

Better future?

After they all settled in Dadaab she was advised to go to the Red Cross Office in Hagadera to be fitted with an artificial leg which she did. The artificial leg she received along with its maintenance and repair was done by Handicap International who were in charge of the Rehabilitation Centre in Hagadera at the time and the same services were continued after Lutheran World Federation (LWF) took over in 2004.

In 2013 through funding from Canadian Lutheran Relief (CLWR), LWF was able to support her with another chance for prosthesis fitting which was successful stating her life has never been better. She now interacts with the community well hence the name Mama Halima: She washes clothes around the camp, cooks mandazis and samosas to provide for her children.

“LWF has good services, they make sure to give mobility aids to those who need them. Which is very good,” she states.

She wraps up by saying, despite being called out for her disability in the camp, she sees herself as a person with two legs and doesn’t let negative comments put her down.