"A photojournalist journey in Somalia " a Somalia Travel Page by hankcheng

Somalia is a very unique country.

Somalia has been without a central government since 1991. Armed conflicts between faction leaders has claimed more than 300,000 lives and the fighting is still continuing today.

For most part of the country, government run public services do not exist. There is no government run water or electricity supply; no postal service; no law and order; no public school and very limited medical service. While some of the services can be provided by privately owned company, many people simply do not have the financial ability to afford such "luxury".

Poor living environment and medical service lead to a low average life expectancy of fifty years old; with 122 deaths per 1,000 live births.

Poor education opportunity has lead to an extreme low literacy rate of less than 2 out of 5 Somalis can read or write. Out of all of those who're literate, only 1/4 of them are female.

Life in Somalia is tough, but the Somalis adapted and survived.

It was difficult to imagine how the people live in an anarchy society in such harsh condition. Wanting to experience and document the situation first hand, I left the comfort of my apartment with my Nikon on March 7, 2003, bounded for a nine days trip in Somalia.

A trip to Somalia requires detail planning and preparation. In depth research started months before the journey. It is not a "vacation-getaway" tourist spot, therefore, there is virtually no updated information available. Much of the information was not received until I get to Nairobi in Kenya.

I left Hong Kong on the 7th of March for Nairobi, Kenya. There, I received my briefing and had my flight organized. I left Nairobi on the 9th early in the morning on a United Nation Common Air Service (UNCAS) flight for Daynile (Mogadishu). I then spent two days in Mogadishu before I flew to Kismayo for one day, then Bosaso and lastly Hargesia.

Please read my Mogadishu page for further information on the city.