Following the devastating fire that tore through Suuq Mugdi market early Monday morning, dozens of traders — most of them women — have moved their businesses to Kismayo Road, the busy highway adjacent to the market.

With their stalls reduced to ashes, the vendors have resorted to laying out their goods on pavements and roadside spaces, using crates, sacks, and plastic sheets as makeshift display tables.

Despite the difficult conditions, they say they have no other option.

“I lost everything in that fire — my stock, my stall, and even my weighing scale,” said Amina Mohamed, who sells vegetables.

“I came here with just a few onions and tomatoes. I can’t afford to stay home. My children need to eat.”

Another trader, Fatuma Adan, said she barely escaped the fire and is now forced to sell under the scorching sun, with no shelter and comfort of security as they enjoyed at the market.

“We are exposed here. The heat is unbearable and the vehicles pass very close. But we must survive,” she said.

Some traders expressed frustration with the lack of immediate help, saying they feel abandoned.

“No one has come to tell us where to go or what to do. We are just trying to find space along the road and carry on with our lives,” said Hawa Ali, a mother of five who lost her clothing stall in the fire.

Many of the women said they had recently taken loans to restock their goods ahead of the end-of-month shopping period. Now, they are not only dealing with losses but also with debt.

“I had borrowed Sh50,000 from a chama group. Now I have nothing to show for it, and I don’t know how I’ll repay it,” said Khadija Noor, who had been selling household items at the market.

Despite the challenges, the women are showing resilience, hoping that authorities will intervene with support and long-term solutions.

“This road is not a market. It’s dangerous and not good for business,” said Mariam Abdullahi, balancing a basket of bananas on her lap. “But until we get help, we’ll stay here.”

The fire, which broke out around 7:00 am, destroyed dozens of stalls. Investigations into the cause are ongoing, but for the traders now lining Kismayo Road, the focus is on survival — one sale at a time.