BULABURTE, (HAN) – Residents of Buulaburte district in Somalia’s Hiiraan region have launched a grassroots initiative to rehabilitate the town’s deteriorating airstrip, which has been out of service for years, cutting off vital commercial and humanitarian access.
The facility, once a critical transport link for the community, has fallen into severe disrepair, leaving few aircraft able to land safely. The lack of an operational airstrip has disrupted trade, hindered public mobility, and complicated emergency medical evacuations.
Local elders and community leaders said the renovation effort demonstrates both resilience and civic unity. “We realized no one would come to fix this for us unless we did it ourselves,” one elder told HAN. “The airstrip is not only vital for commerce, but also for saving lives when urgent medical evacuations are needed.”
Residents have appealed to Somali diaspora groups, business leaders, politicians, and both federal and state authorities to contribute funds and technical support. Organizers say the project will require substantial resources to restore the runway to a safe and reliable standard.
The initiative comes as Somalia continues to grapple with decades of conflict and underinvestment in public infrastructure. For Buulaburte, community members hope the restoration of the airstrip will reconnect the district with the rest of the country, boost local trade, and improve humanitarian access.
