A Camel for a Fish - A Fable

The climate crisis is disrupting food security, driving displacement, destroying livelihoods and fuelling conflict. The climate crisis is a human crisis. Refugees and internally displaced people are at the frontline of the climate emergency. "A Camel for a Fish" is a fable that outlines the urgent need for nations and civil society to learn to negotiate and cooperate in order to resolve their differences.

During a visit to Nairobi in 2004, I was staying at the 680 Hotel for a few days. The place was fully booked, with Somali leaders from the Horn of Africa and Kenya talking about peace. This was the so-called second phase of the Somalia Reconciliation talks, sponsored and promoted by the Kenyan government. Despite a huge divide between members of the four major clans, I sensed a great deal of optimism. Two months later, I could only come to the conclusion that this peace talk exercise was doomed. Kenya's good will had run out.

A brief history: British and Italian colonialism began in the mid 1800's, finally ending in 1960 with Somalia's Independence. Political unrest and civil war continued until 2004 when a transitional national government was formed. There have been many attempts to bring peace to a region that remains insecure and dangerous. This civil unrest has affected Kenya in many ways, including the current tensions surrounding the dismantling of the Dadaab Refugee Camp. It was built in 1991 for 90,000 refugees and at its peak when I visited the camp, there were close to a half million people living at Ifo, Hagadera and Dagahaley camps. Most had fled from Somalia seeking a better life. The UNHCR was a major contributor to humanitarian efforts, offering assistance to the world's largest refugee camp.

This fable speaks to the need to "lay down arms", and in a sensible way, to promote the ongoing health and welfare of the larger community. It was written in the context of the Somalia experience.

A Camel for a Fish

There is a story of a Somali fisherman who had a huge catch of fish in his boat. He stopped at Kismaayo near to where the three rivers meet. There he met a man from North East Province, Kenya who had walked all the way from Wajir to Afmadow, following the path of the Laaq Dheere River to the coast. Upon seeing the bountiful catch of fish the traveller said, "sir, I am famished, would you give me a fish?"

The fisherman replied, "a camel for a fish, a camel for a fish, from land to the sea, that's the way it is."

The man left hungry for he had no camel to give.

One year later, the same fisherman stopped by Mogadishu. Again he had a catch of fish that nearly sank his boat. There he met a man who had walked with his only camel from the interior, following the Shabeelle River past Jawhar to the capital.

The man said, "sir, you have such a huge catch of fish, let me have but one of your fish and I will be satisfied." The fisherman replied, "a camel for a fish, a camel for a fish, from land to the sea, that's the way it is."

"Very well then, although it is not a fair trade, I will give you my camel." The man ate the fish and was satisfied for a day. Being a shrewd businessman, the fisherman sold the camel for a large profit.

The next year, the same fisherman found himself further north up the coast at Meregh. This time there was no huge catch or sinking boat full of fish. He had fished all year without catching one fish. At Meregh he met a man from Puntland who had 100 camels. The fisherman looked at the man and asked him for but one litre of camel's milk. The man replied, "I'll trade you a litre of milk for one fish."

"But sir, I have fished for a year without a catch. I am destitute and poor and have nothing to offer."

The man with 100 camels felt sorry for the hungry fisherman. He replied, "I will do even better. I will give you one camel and you will always have milk for yourself and others. This I will do on one condition."

"And what might they be?" the fisherman asked.

"If I give you a camel you must promise to offer a litre of camel's milk each day to someone in need."

The fisherman walked away sadly, unable to negotiate his own future health welfare. He died poor and alone. You see, he did not want to give up the life he had for another. He could not see that by negotiating and cooperating in good faith, that he could be better off. The fisherman did not understand he was part of a community that had to work together in order to survive.

Moral of the Fable:

Negotiation is the better part of survival, and sharing resources enhances our lives.

This fable is dedicated to Ron Ward, whose efforts to sustain food security in the Dadaab refugee camp, also gave me a chance to own two camels and to become a member of the Kenya Camel Association (KCA). Ron's humanitarian work in Kenya as an educator, agriculturist, and development officer is legendary. Since 2004, Ron has been advisor and Patron of CES Canada, a Canadian NGO operating in Kenya.