Beledhawo
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Baled Hawo is the second largest city in Gedo, the largest province in Somalia situated in the south western part of the country. It has a major international airport. The city is the centre of the business and trade in the region. The original name is Bulo Xawo which means "The Village of Hawo", in honour of its first resident. The town is also the headquarters of Baled Hawo District which, like most other districts in Gedo, is named after its chief town. According to a 1991 census, its population was 111,672; currently estimated at around 90,020.
[edit] History
Baled Xawo was founded in 1910 by a woman by the named of Xawo Aden, the wife of a somali soldier based across the border in Mandhera District in Kenya at the time. It was named after Xawo Aden, the first and longest resident of the town. The name of the city literally means "City of Xawo" in Somali.
It was totally rebuilt in the early 1960s after the British burned the original town to ground.
Baled Hawo replaced Garbaharey as the capital of Gedo region in 1985. The border with Kenya and Ethiopia and its close proximity to Kismaayo brought wealth into the city, which made it grow dramatically. It then became Gedo's second largest town after Baardheere and one of the most important cities in Somalia. Songs and plays have been dedicated to the city by many well known somali artists, praising its natural scenery and hospital and generous residents.
[edit] Transportation
Public transportation is through public buses or blue and white share taxis, locally known as "white horses" or faras cadeyaal (in somali). The taxis are usually minibuses that can sit at least twelve people and small sedans imported from Japan. Two people are responsible for each taxi, the driver and a Kirishboy (Garage Boy in English) who collects fares and calls out the taxi's destination.
The city is served by Mohamed Heeyd International Airport, where a new terminal opened in 2004. The old BaledHawo Airport in the western "Old Airport" district is used mostly by small craft and carrier jets. Neighboring cities in the region include Garbaharey, Luuq, Doollow, and Dhamasa.
