By: Yusuf M Hasan
Somalilandsun – The ancient port of Hiis in the eastern Sanaag region of Somaliland is currently inhabited by a couple of families and a contingent of Coast guards.
The depleted inhabitation of the port town which is originally physically isolated is being exacerbated by the massive influx of sand that has so far resulted in the completed envelopment of residential and commercial buildings.
Hiis whose nearest centre for supply is the sister port of town of Mayd situated around 35 kms to the East is surrounded by big mountains of made of stones on one side and the gulf of Aden on the other thence its total isolation made more so by the rough terrain.
To perceive the near extinction of the ancient port town one needs visit the local school situated a km away which now lays fallow teachers and students having absconded the town for want of better conditions.
The port town whose nearest human neighbours are 40 Kms away to the south i.e. the trading centre of ‘Gudmo Biyo As’ where Sh Samaroon is Buried and home to the wonder of flowing water that is both hot and cold means that getting a cup of milk is like a Palestinian getting into Tel-Aviv.
The only remedy to salve the historical port town is to have the government turn it into a full naval garrison and preferably its eastern command base.
