Somalia chat Seek For A BBW Man

Coronavirus pandemic image copyrightGetty Images Flights carrying the mild stimulant khat have been banned from entering Somalia, leaving chewers of the leaves in a stew, write the BBC's Mary Harper and Bella Hassan. Free chat bonga normal times, around midday, when the bunches of fresh leaves arrive in Somalia's capital, Mogadishu, by plane from Kenya, men disappear from view, lounging in khat kiosks vhat chewing at home.

The leaf, also known as miraa, acts as a stimulant, sending users into a frenzy of excited chatter. Business deals are made and broken, tired fighters are kept awake.

Seized khat burned

In March, the government of Somalia banned international flights, including khat planes, as part of its efforts to contain coronavirus. When it imposed a lockdown, it forbade people from gathering together to chew their beloved leaves as this would break social distancing rules. Officials warned that because khat is picked by hand it could help spread Covid Some comes in by road from Ethiopia.

somapia Some is transported by boat from Kenya, where many khat growers and traders say they have lost their livelihoods. The situation is especially grave in central Meru county, the heartland of khat farming in Kenya. About half-a-million farmers cultivate the stimulant in the Horn of Africa; many will be hit hard by the ban.

Although most khat sellers in Somalia have nothing to trade, a few crafty dealers have hit a goldmine. This ban has been very good for us.

But I cannot afford the exorbitant prices, so I am going quietly mad. Others have started to rob so they can afford to buy khat.

For us khat lovers, this is soma,ia worst situation we have ever been in. There have been reports that some police and soldiers are stealing phones and money to pay for khat. The authorities say it makes social distancing impossible and that they will reassess the situation after the Islamic holy month Ramadan.

Most of Somaliland's khat comes in by ssomalia from Ethiopia. Trucks piled high with bunches of leaves race in, horns blaring, to make sure the delivery is fresh on arrival.

Vehicles caught under the current ban are confiscated. Any khat that is found is burned.

But some sneaks into the territory, also fetching sky-high prices.