Albinos are rarely seen in Somalia due to the extreme heat. Due to the fact that they lack melanocytes, which are melanin-producing cells located in the bottom layer of the skin which filter out ultraviolet rays from the sun, they are more susceptible to skin cancer and hence have shorter lifespans. Studies show that the longest lifespan of albinos is 40-50 years under favourable conditions. They cannot tolerate temperatures above 17-20 degree Celcius. They are normally stigmatized within Somali communities for their white skin.

Somalia Report speaks with Mohamed Ibrahim, 26, an albino living in Ifo refugee camp.

Thank you Mr. Ibrahim, please tell us how your life is here?

Thank you very much, really my life here is not that good due to my condition. Though I still suffer some discrimination from the people I live with in the camps, yet thanks to God I am alright.

When did you enter Kenya and where are you from?

I came from Mogadishu and entered Kenya in January 2009. Currently, my health condition is not good. After a long tiresome journey, I arrived here at Ifo with my family. We were admitted and lived here since. On my way to the camps, I lost my son.

How did the people treat you, were they welcoming?

In fact when we arrived here, people completely isolated us. For the first month, people were coming to visit us in awe, some were afraid that we are ogres, others had never saw an albino before, thefore I tolerated everything and in that way I made life out of it. Our children are mentally tortured and they cannot go out to play with children their age. In school, they are likewise shunned.

How many members are there in your family? And how many albino families are here at Ifo?

My family consists of four including myself, and I don't know the exact number of albino families but as far as I know, there are about ten-fifteen families. That is very neglible number, considering the population of this camp.

In your earlier days in Somalia what was your profession, and what do you do now?

There was no specific work I used to do, but at times I worked in a hotel, cleaning kitchens, and at times I was a fisherman. But I was demoralised as a fisherman, because I was stigmatized. Nobody would buy from us because people think that we are sick, therefore our goods are also sick. For now, I am jobless. Here in this camp, it is survival of the fittest. If a healthy person has no job, what about me? I have no job.

What made you to flee Somalia?

There was no specific problem that affected me personally, but when insecurity became the order of the day, my family and I decided to migrate to these camps. Also, other families had migrated, so I decided to go along.

Were you given any special consideration by the UNHCR?

No, there was not that much consideration. We were considered just as others. Far from being given special consideration, some families were turned back at the border. I went to the main office in Dadaab to report the matter to the relevant authority, they assured me they would help but so far nothing tangible has been done. I don't know if they are sorting the matter or not.

Which is better for your health, being here in Ifo or in Mogadishu?

I can say here. There are a number of hospitals which assist us. Also humanitarian agencies sometimes give us some assistance. It seems that people have felt mercy for us. There are Islamic charity organisation that assist us also. Thanks to God, life is not bad.

Finally, what is your request to the world?

I wish to request donors and well wishers to assist us so that we feel cared for.

Tweet