Kurmaan  Creek Footbridge Project is one of SEHO's  long term projects. Kurmaan Village lies on the southeastern side of Bardera city. Kurman is one of Baardheere city's half dozen sections. Other main  areas of Baardheere include Horseed, Hilaac, Waaberi, Hureenaa and Jubba.

The situation Kurmaan Village residents as well as Baardheere residents face each rainy period is something SEHO volunteers have taken up and tried to campaign to eliminate the problems faced by Kurmaan Village residents.  Kurmaan residents and travelers trying to cross the creek face many problems when the creek is filled with water carrying dangerous currents.

Funds to cover the costs for Kurmaan Creek Footbridge over the Kurmaan Creek is currently being addressed. The estimations from various organizations for the building cost is estimated to be between $10,000 to $25,000 US. 

SEHO was aware of the problems facing families in Kurmaan Village, which has an estimated population of 7,000 people. Sometimes, on a dry day, people who have left Kurmaan side of the creek and went to shop at the Bardera Main Market,  will return few hours later to find the creek carrying water from rain waters from up in the north of Bardera some 30 to 50km away. People are then forced to stay in Bardera for the night where they have not made any such plans earlier in the day. Others will try to cross the dangerous waters.

When crossing the Kurmaan Creek, the dangers people encounter include the risk to be eaten by crocodiles swimming up in the creek. The creek joins the Jubba River a kilometer or so away. Many elderly people and travelers from the countryside who cannot swim risk drowning.

At least three attempts had been made in the past to build a meaningful bridge over the Kurmaan Creek. Each time, the strong currents have washed away the temporary bridges into the Jubba River which is just less than a km and half at the crossing point on the creek.

The higher cost estimation for building a reliable foot-bridge over the Kurman Creek is then reasonable. All of these estimations were from 2006 figures. To include construction for road bridge where cars and trucks heading to Sakow and Kismayo cross a the creek, near the Baardheere Market, would easily top $300,000.00. Cars and trucks currently avoid such trips during rainy seasons. Only small trucks, Toyota Hilux size type, and UD trucks can cross the creek by doing all sorts of maneuvers including parallel runs inside the creek.   

In the past, during 1970s and 80s, the Somali Central Government used to divert, if not all, much of the water entering the creek to canals which fed inland farms surrounding Bardera. That hasn't happened for two decades now.  Current and previous Baardheere Council of Elders have always campaigned for the building of strong footbridge over the Kurmaan Creek (Faraqa Kurmaan).

When the UN and US forces were stationed in Bardera from 1993-1995, there were two temporary footbridges built at the main crossing point of the creek but the earliest rain waters washed both structures into the Jubba River.

As you can see from the pictures, residents of Kurmaan Village and travelers on foot heading to Bardera (Baardheere) are having great difficult in crossing the creek. It is not uncommon for people to sustain serious injuries in their attempts to cross the creek. Unaccompanied children and adults who don't know to swim face many dangers including drowning.  

A solid footbridge strong enough to accommodate donkey-drawn carts will not cost more than $30,000 US. Two lane bridge measuring 30 meters long and 10 meters wide can easily be constructed with the current estimated figures. Kurmaan Village Association argues area active NGOs like HIRDA, SADO and SEHO to address this problem in their 2009-2010 fiscal year.