Mikkel Hørlyck Photography
Conflict photojournalist and visual artist

Somalia Independency is published in Danish People's Aid, Danish CISU - Civil Society In Development and is part of Infinite (2023-2027) - Timeless (2023-2029) - A Deadly Narrative (2016-ongoing)

Boys stand at the entrance to Jawli Camp - IDP (Internally Displaced People). Here is a tree with different hangings made of textile, plastic and other things. Living conditions in Jawli Camp stand out from other camps for internally displaced people in Garowe, Puntland, Somalia, as the area is particularly harsh and struggles with poverty, hunger challenges and gender-based violence.

Hamda Mohammed (27) works at the Safe Space Center with KAALO – Aid and Development Organization to help women and girls on gender-based violence, at a camp for internally displaced people Jilab 2 Camp. Hamda is a facilitator and safety educator, and conducts consultations with women and girls, and can also refer people to a hospital or a psychologist.

Hassan (12) lives in Jawli Camp for internally displaced people in Garowe, Puntland, Somalia. Hassan does not go to school, but helps his mother make shoes. Hunger, poverty and harsh living conditions characterize Jawli Camp - IDP (Internally Displaced People). Hassan is standing in front of a water station, where an elderly man is entering to fill his water bottle.

Boys stand at the entrance to Jawli Camp - IDP (Internally Displaced People). Here is a tree with different hangings made of textile, plastic and other things. Living conditions in Jawli Camp stand out from other camps for internally displaced people in Garowe, Puntland, Somalia, as the area is particularly harsh and struggles with poverty, hunger challenges and gender-based violence.

View from the plane in the passage to Garowe, the capital of Puntland, in the Northern part of Somalia. The plane's journey is from Addis Ababa in Ethiopia, The Horn of Africa. Drought, conflict, climate change and fighting between clans are part of the normal picture. But also, economic development, new innovation projects, progress in human rights and decolonization.

Hunger, poverty and harsh living conditions characterize Jawli Camp - IDP (Internally Displaced People). The group stands in front of a water station that is of great importance to this part of the Al Wakil camp.

View from the plane in the passage to Garowe, the capital of Puntland, in the Northern part of Somalia. The plane's journey is from Addis Ababa in Ethiopia, The Horn of Africa. Drought, conflict, climate change and fighting between clans are part of the normal picture. But also, economic development, new innovation projects, progress in human rights and decolonization.

Children play and find things in the trash at the entrance to Jawli Camp - IDP (Internally Displaced People). Living conditions in Jawli Camp stand out from other camps for internally displaced people in Garowe, Puntland, Somalia, as the area is particularly harsh and struggles with poverty, hunger challenges and gender-based violence.

A woman allows herself to be photographed among children, men and women in Jawli Camp - IDP (Internally Displaced People). Danish People’s Aid helps through United Danish Appeal For Funds (Danmarks Indsamling) and locally KAALO – Aid and Development Organization against the hunger problem.

A man allows himself to be photographed among children, men and women in Jawli Camp - IDP (Internally Displaced People). Danish People’s Aid helps through United Danish Appeal For Funds (Danmarks Indsamling) and locally KAALO – Aid and Development Organization against the hunger problem.

A boy places his hand at the entrance to the water station in Jawli Camp - IDP (Internally Displaced People), in the Al Wakiil area. The water station is of great importance to the residents, who are already hard- pressed by severe poverty. Schooling can be challenging and dreams of the future can feel narrow.

Entrance to the large Jawli Camp - IDP (Internally Displaced People), right next to a modern part of Garowe, the capital of Puntland, in Northern Somalia. Many people have traveled here from Southern Somalia, where conflict and economic challenges have affected the area, as well as climate change.

A group of children, and also women and men, allow themselves to be photographed in the Jawli Camp - IDP (Internally Displaced People), where they live, in the Shabele area.

The area of Shabele in Jawli Camp - IDP (Internally Displaced People) with a standard of living in severe poverty. Suddenly, a child runs across the dusty surface of the earth.

A camel is eating grass, which is a sign that there has been recent rain, and this is very positive for the production of the land area, where there is otherwise dry and often drought. The camel is with its group of camels and their human owners near Jawli Camp - IDP (Internally Displaced People), in Garowe, the capital of Puntland, the Northern part of Somalia.

Men from Tuulo-Oman demonstrate how to pour water for their unique water source. The WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) program is essential for the residents and their animals in Tuulo-Oman. The name of the village means feeling thirsty. Danish People’s Aid supports the WASH program with financial support, and collaborates with KAALO – Aid and Development Organization. The water source is of paramount importance to the village, who are very grateful for the difference it makes and their well-being it offers.

Men from Tuulo-Oman demonstrate how to pour water for their unique water source. The WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) program is essential for the residents and their animals in Tuulo-Oman. The name of the village means feeling thirsty. Danish People’s Aid supports the WASH program with financial support, and collaborates with KAALO – Aid and Development Organization. The water source is of paramount importance to the village, who are very grateful for the difference it makes and their well-being it offers.

Farah Gelle (62). Member of Community Tuulo-Oman. Farah expresses his gratitude for the WASH water project, supported by Danish People's Aid and KAALO - Aid and Development Organization, and talks about its great benefit to the village, their animals, the standard of living and the area, which is dry and can struggle with severe drought. Tuulo-Oman, near Puntland, Northern Somalia, The Horn of Africa.

The area at Tuulo-Oman is rough, and here it is dry and you struggle with drought. The dust from the sand can be dangerous for their water source made in collaboration with Danish People's Aid and KAALO - Aid and Development Organization, because the dust can make the water undrinkable. Therefore, a large roof has been installed on the water source's facility.

Tree set up by people to protect their water wedge from animal encroachment, where also Nomads pass with camels, goats and donkeys. The area at Tuulo-Oman is rough, and here it is dry and you struggle with drought. The dust from the sand can be dangerous for their water source made in collaboration with Danish People's Aid and KAALO - Aid and Development Organization, because the dust can make the water undrinkable. Therefore, a large roof has been installed on the water source's facility.

Farah Gelle (62) prays. Islam is the primary religion throughout Somalia. Farah is a member of Community Tuulo-Oman. He expresses his gratitude for the WASH water project, supported by Danish People's Aid and KAALO – Aid and Development Organization, and talks about its great benefit to the village, their animals, the standard of living and the area, which is dry and can struggle with severe drought. Tuulo-Oman, near Puntland, Northern Somalia, The Horn of Africa.

Schoolgirls swing on the playground created to be a friendly place for children at the Jilab 2 camp - IDP (Internally Displaced People) by Danish People's Aid, as well as implemented by KAALO - Aid and Development Organization. In the Jilab 2 Camp, more children go to school, and the mood for the playground is at its highest.

Schoolboys enjoy themselves on the playground created to be a friendly place for children at the Jilab 2 camp - IDP (Internally Displaced People) by Danish People's Aid, as well as implemented by KAALO - Aid and Development Organization. In the Jilab 2 camp, more children go to school, and the mood for the playground is at its highest.

Close to Laascaanood and SSC-Khaatumo are smaller villages where peace is now secured from the invasion and domination of Somaliland forces. The war lasted from late 2022 until August 2023. Laascaanood and SSC-Khaatumo drove Somaliland away in armed conflict.

City life in SSC Khaatumo at Laascaanood, where peace is now secured from the invasion and domination of Somaliland forces. The war lasted from late 2022 until August 2023. Laascaanood and SSC- Khaatumo drove Somaliland away in armed conflict.

Bullet hole in Lascanod General Hospital's ambulance. Lascanod General Hospital faced massive resistance in the fighting between the SSC-Khaatumo Army's attempts to keep Somaliland's forces out and gain the upper hand. Lascanod General Hospital was hit by gunfire and artillery fire, its director Dr. Ahmed Mohamed Hassan says. He also says that many employees have struggled with PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) afterwards.

Khadar Mohamud (45) comes walking through Lascanod General Hospital. He has badly injured his leg and has had a splint put on the shin of his left leg. The cause was fire from Somaliland forces. He is in the hospital to process his injury.

Goojecade base, where Somaliland had previously taken over and sent artillery from into the town of SSC-Khaatumo, which survived fierce combat power from artillery. Somaliland forces have been eliminated from the position in the Goojecade base, which is now controlled by the SSC-Khaatumo's Army.

Goojecade base, where Somaliland had previously taken over and sent artillery from into the town of SSC-Khaatumo, which survived fierce combat power from artillery. Somaliland forces have been eliminated from the position in the Goojecade base, which is now controlled by the SSC-Khaatumo's Army.

Yusuf Awil (17) is a young soldier in the SSC-Khaatumo's Army in Laascaanood. Some young men apply to the military because it is a job opportunity, others because their fathers have died in the fighting with Somaliland.

Young soldiers pose for portraits at the Goojecade base, which is now controlled by the SSC-Khaatumo’s Army in the Laascaanood area. Previously, it was managed by, among others, the senior general of the Somaliland forces, who sent artillery from this position over the town of SSC-Khaatumo. The conflict lasted from late 2022 to August 2023 – a bloody war.

A young soldier in the SSC-Khaatumo's Army in Laascaanood. Some young men apply to the military because it is a job opportunity, others because their fathers have died in the fighting with Somaliland.

Goojecade base, where Somaliland had previously taken over and sent artillery from into the town of SSC-Khaatumo, which survived fierce combat power from artillery. Somaliland forces have been eliminated from the position in the Goojecade base, which is now controlled by the SSC-Khaatumo's Army.

Abdirahman (8) and the father's name is Mohamed Abdinasra at an institution for paralyzed people. The boy Abdirahman cannot walk and is now in a wheelchair after he was hit by artillery from Somaliland forces. The boy was hit in his spine and he will only be able to walk again if foreign health workers operate on him. SSC-Khaatumo does not have that capacity.

Jama Mohamud (16) has been hit by fire from Somaliland's forces. He is at the institution for paralyzed people in SSC-Khaatumo in the Laascaanood area.

Abdifatah Ahmed (17) has great challenges with his leg, and is in a wheelchair after being injured in Somaliland's invasion of SSC-Khaatumo in the Laascaanood area.

Abdikani Farah Musa Mohamed (16) has lost his left leg, and allows himself to be photographed at the institution for paralyzed people in SSC-Khaatumo in the Laascaanood area. The fierce fighting between Somaliland forces and SSC-Khaatumo, which cost him his leg, lasted from late 2022 to August 2023.

A little outside the capital Garowe, in Puntland, something further away is being burnt off.

Dust from the sand on the route between Garowe, the capital of Puntland, Northern Somalia, to Eyl, far off the coast in Northeastern Somalia. The Horn of Africa. The passage between Garowe and Eyl takes approximately four hours by car, but there is no asphalt road, so the route is a demanding passage.

Qarhis Village. Around 2,000 families live here. There are approximately 40 kilometers to the coast in the Gulf of Aden at Eyl.

Abdawahid stands in Qarhis Village. Around 2,000 families live here. There are approximately 40 kilometers to the coast in the Gulf of Aden at Eyl. School opportunities in the area are not long-lasting.

A security guard from the SPU – Special Protection Unit, trained by the UN, allows himself to be portrayed in the town of Eyl, at a historical area where they previously fought their land back from Italian occupation. Somalia was established in 1960. Today the area of Eyl is free of pirates from Somalia who hijack vessels on the coast.

The coast at Eyl, where peace is secured. In the past, about 10 years ago, pirates were active in the area and occupied ships in sight, doing prisoner exchanges for money. It's over. However, the water, which is full of salt, cannot be used as drinking water, as Somalia is a developing country without the necessary tools in Northern Somalia to turn the water into drinking water.

The coast at Eyl, where peace is secured. In the past, about 10 years ago, pirates were active in the area and occupied ships in sight, doing prisoner exchanges for money. It's over. However, the water, which is full of salt, cannot be used as drinking water, as Somalia is a developing country without the necessary tools in Northern Somalia to turn the water into drinking water.

The coast at Eyl, where peace is secured. In the past, about 10 years ago, pirates were active in the area and occupied ships in sight, doing prisoner exchanges for money. It's over. However, the water, which is full of salt, cannot be used as drinking water, as Somalia is a developing country without the necessary tools in Northern Somalia to turn the water into drinking water.

Mohamed Dibad, security guard from the SPU – Special Protection Unit, trained by the UN, allows himself to be portrayed on the coast in Eyl, where peace is secured. In the past, about 10 years ago, pirates were active in the area and occupied ships in sight, doing prisoner exchanges for money. It's over.

Part of the day's catch from the fishermen. Many have a job in the fishing industry in Eyl, which often sends boats out to catch fish in the sea. The Horn of Africa.

Many have a job in the fishing industry in Eyl, which often sends boats out to catch fish in the sea. The Horn of Africa.

A tree is washed up from the sea at The Horn of Africa, in Eyl, Somalia.

Abduali (10) was born in Eyl, and he and the father of his many friends' parents work as either fishermen or have a shop where they sell, among other things, fish. They enjoy bathing, in a strong environment that has been severely tested with foreign dominance in the sea around the Gulf of Aden, The Indian Ocean.

Abduali (right) (10) was born in Eyl, and he and his many friends' parents' father work as either fishermen or have a shop where they sell, among other things, fish. They enjoy bathing, in a strong environment that has been severely tested with foreign dominance in the sea around the Gulf of Aden, The Indian Ocean.

Children bathe in the sea along the coast of Eyl, Somalia, Indian Ocean, on The Horn of Africa. Adults have sailed out to catch fish. You can e.g. catch squid and sharks in the area.

Security guards from the SPU – Special Protection Unit, trained by the UN, walk towards Eyl town, from the water, on the coast. Many say how happy they are about the peace in the area and that piracy has ended.

Security guards from the SPU – Special Protection Unit, trained by the UN, walk towards Eyl town, from the water, on the coast. Many say how happy they are about the peace in the area and that piracy has ended.

Abdikadir owns about 25 camels and about 50 goats. He has lived his whole life as a Nomad, and is both happy and proud of his lifestyle, where he is the father of 10 children and has a woman with whom he lives. They live in a primitive wooden home, and may occasionally have to change their place of residence due to the dynamics of the climate. Omar Mohamed from KAALO – Aid and Development Organization hands Abdikadir a bottle of water, where Danish People's Aid also supports Nomads with water and sanitary facilities around Puntland.

The capital of Garowe, in Puntland, in Northern Somalia. The progress can be seen in the city i.a. by new roads supported by the World Bank. Puntland has about 4.9 million inhabitants. Somalia has a total of approx. 19 million inhabitants. About 57,000 inhabitants of Garowe.

The capital of Garowe, in Puntland, in Northern Somalia. The progress can be seen in the city i.a. by new roads supported by the World Bank. Puntland has about 4.9 million inhabitants. Somalia has a total of approx. 19 million inhabitants. About 57,000 inhabitants of Garowe.

The capital of Garowe, in Puntland, in Northern Somalia. The progress can be seen in the city i.a. by new roads supported by the World Bank. Puntland has about 4.9 million inhabitants. Somalia has a total of approx. 19 million inhabitants. About 57,000 inhabitants of Garowe.

Danish People's Aid has several WASH projects in the Puntland area, where this is. The river is not seen when you wait for the rain. The purpose of the WASH projects is to help the population in the Puntland area to get clean drinking water.

A woman walks across the street, where many new initiatives are made and opportunities are created. Several of the roads in Garowe are supported by the World Bank.

Evening lights in Garowe, where shops, schools and other buildings have their candles, and an atmospheric atmosphere that has many people in the street scene.

Evening lights in Garowe, where shops, schools and other buildings have their candles, and an atmospheric atmosphere that has many people in the street scene.

Evening lights in Garowe, where shops, schools and other buildings have their candles, and an atmospheric atmosphere that has many people in the street scene.

A woman comes walking in the area where KAALO – Aid and Development Organization is based. Here, many people are seen in the street scene of both men and women, where new cars, mostly white, due to the sun, drive around.

Young schoolgirls stand next to their school and talk together, on break from classes. Garowe, Puntland, Northern Somalia.

A young schoolgirl stands next to her and her schoolmates' school, talking together, during a break from classes. Garowe, Puntland, Northern Somalia.