The European Union Delegation to Somalia and the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) have today donated an assortment of equipment to the Somalia Police Force to help them in areas of bomb disposal and maritime and inland security which will assist the police in better performing their work and generally help to improve security.
The EU Special Envoy and Ambassador to Somalia Michele Cervone d’Urso and the Deputy Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General (DSRSG) for Somalia Raisedon Zenenga presented the items, which included communication devices, vehicles, office equipment, bomb disposal kits and a boat to the Somalia Minister of Internal Security Abdirizak Omar Mohamed.
“The EU is pleased to jointly hand over essential working tools and bomb detection equipment to the Somalia Police Force which complements our wider capacity building effort to support, train and equip the police to better protect the Somali people. Every life counts, and I am glad to see that the Police Force now have important new tools to help save lives in Somalia especially by detecting and detonating explosive ordnance and old bombs which can cause fatalities if not managed in a professional manner,” Ambassador Michele Cervone said.
“This was a very timely decision by EU to hand over this equipment. As the United Nations, UNMAS and all others involved, we are very grateful to the EU, we are very grateful to Canada, Italy, Japan, UK and grateful to the Ministry of Internal Security and the Somali Police Force leadership for the cooperation that they extended to us in making this happenâ€, said DSRSG Zenenga.
The bomb disposal equipment was donated by UNMAS which was originally funded by the European Union. The equipment will also support the training and operations of 5 Police bomb squad units who now lead the Somali effort to clear unexploded ordnance left over from decades of conflict.
“Somalia appreciates the support by the European Union and the United Nation Mine Action Service as well as the UN in general. UNMAS through the use of donor funds has developed a Somalia Police bomb squad that is trained to detect, detonate and safely remove ordnance to save lives. I urge the Police to take care of the equipment and other donations and to continue protecting lives of our people,” said Internal Security Minister Abdirizak Omar Mohamed.
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For further information contact: Hodo Dahir, UNMAS Liaison and Communications Officer on tel. +252 (0) 616 308025 or by e-mail: [email protected]
Joe Contreras
Spokesperson
United Nations Assistance in Somalia
Tel: +252 699 590080 (mobile)
+252 619 988211 (mobile)
+254 41 350 8581 (land line)
Inter-mission: 197-8581
Tetra: 504206
