Three Somalis passed away within the span of a week in the greater London area as a result of the coronavirus. The deaths left the Somali community shell shocked. These victims included former athletes and prominent businessmen.

Thr first death to hit the Somali community in London this week occured on the 24th of March. Abdikadir Mohamed Farah commonly referred to by his nickname Biriq passed away early Tuesday morning in north London. His death comes after battling an illness that arose due to the coronavirus.

Abdikadir (Biriq) was born in the city of Beledweyne in central Somalia. He rose to stardom at a young age and became one of Somalia’s greatest footballers and became a household name in the country. However following the collapse of the Somali nation in 1991, Abdikadir (Biriq) just like many others fled Somalia and arrived as a refugee in the United Kingdom, where he began his new life.

He spent nearly the next three decades coaching and mentoring youth in the game of football, that’s until his life was cut short by COVID19 commonly referred to as the coronavirus. Abdikadir (Biriq) leaves behind a family and community that missses him dearly.

Pic : Abdikadir Mohamed Farah (Biriq)

Friday the 27th was an especially painful day for London’s Somali community. Within the span of 24 hours, two prominent businessmen lost there lives as a result of the Coronavirus. Ahmed Caynaashe past away in east London, while Mohamed Elmi passed away in north London’s Tottenham area.

Ahmed was the manager of Capital Home Care and well known within the Somali community. Elders, Sheikhs and fellow businessmen where seen on social media giving condolences to the Caynaashe family.

Pic : Ahmed Caynaashe

Mohamed Elmi who also died on the same day was reportedly ill for the past two weeks before succumbing to the coronavirus according to family members that spoke with local media.

Pic : Mohamed Elmi

These latest deaths have led to more questions than answers. Many are wondering how many more people from the Somali community are infected.

Coronavirus deaths have been on the increase within the past few weeks, with a significant number of deaths effecting the Somali community. As of now, most of these deaths within Europe’s Somali diaspora community has been in the UK, Sweden and Denmark.

Halgan Media Service Desk 

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