Voices of Resilience in Ethiopia’s Somali region: A Journey from Displacement to Renewal

Bayahow, Ethiopia – Across the sprawling plains of Ethiopia’s Somali region, a quiet transformation is underway. It is not the kind that shouts or demands attention, but one that whispers of resilience, of lives stitched back together, and of hope taking root in the fertile soil of new beginnings.

This is the story of the relocation programme from Qoloji IDP camp to a new settlement in Bayahow, a venture as intricate as it is transformative. What began as a response to the plight of thousands of internally displaced persons (IDPs) living in a camp-like setting has evolved into a blueprint for rebuilding lives and communities.

In December 2024, four waves of relocations led by the Regional Disaster Risk Management Bureau (DRMB) in Somali and supported by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and regional partners, marked a significant milestone. For 2,570 individuals or 524 households, the 620-kilo metres journey from Qoloji to Bayahow was more than a passage—it was a bridge to possibility.

Watch the full video below:

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This video story is produced by IOM Ethiopia and was originally published on their YouTube account.