Qardho, also known as Gardo, is a city in the northeastern Bari region of Somalia. Part of the autonomous Puntland state, it is the center of the Qardho District.
History
Qardho is one of a series of ancient settlements in northern Somalia. In the Arie valley, midway between the city and Iskushuban, once lay a sizable town that had considerable structures with thick walls. Qardho is also situated near the burial place of the immediate forefather of the MarehanDarod clan. In the early modern period, Qardho was a part of the Majeerteen Sultanate, centered in Aluula. It was later incorporated into Italian Somaliland during the early 20th century. Qardho also serves as the capital of the Karkaar sub-region.
Demographics
As of 2000, Qardho had a population of around 47,400 inhabitants. The broader Qardho District has a total population of 60,825 residents as of 2005.
Qardho has a number of academic institutions. According to the Puntland Ministry of Education, there are 39 primary schools in the Qardho District. Among these are Al-Xanaan, Shire, Gahayr and Gudcad. Secondary schools in the area include Sheikh Osman, Muntada, Nawawi and Al-Ashar. Al-Azhar University, Egypt's highest authority for Islamic affairs, also operates a school in Qardho. At the post-secondary level, the East Somalia University offers higher instruction. East Africa University also has one of its seven branches in the city.
Services
On November 25, 2012, the Puntland government opened a new maximum security prison facility in Qardho. Inaugurated by former Puntland President Abdirahman Mohamud Farole and a delegation of cabinet ministers, senior government representatives and district officials, the institution provides both custodial housing and social rehabilitation programs. The UNDP is also slated to assist in capacity building for the prison's correctional administration and staff. Additionally, the city is served by the Gardo General Hospital. A private healthcare facility, it has a Microbiology Service Laboratory. In April 2013, the Puntland Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources announced plans to open a new fish market within the year in Qardho. The project is part of a larger regional development plan that will also see a similar marketplace inaugurated in Galkayo, in the model of the already launched Garowe fish market. In June 2014, the Puntland government launched a new tree-planting campaign in the state, with the regional Ministry of Environment, Wildlife and Tourism slated to plant 25,000 trees by the end of the year. Qardho is among the seven cities and towns earmarked for the reforestation initiative, which also include Garowe, Bosaso, Dhahar, Buuhoodle, Baran and Galkayo. The campaign is part of a broader partnership between the Puntland authorities and EU to set up various environmental protection measures in the region, with the aim of promoting reforestation and afforestation. In May 2015, the Puntland regional government announced that it was slated to launch new development projects in Qardho.
