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UN PhotoUNSOM / PUNTLAND SRSG LAING VISIT
STORY: UNSOM / PUNTLAND SRSG LAING VISIT
TRT: 05:05
SOURCE: UNSOM
RESTRICTIONS: PLEASE CREDIT UNSOM ON SCREEN
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS
DATELINE: 31 MARCH 2024, GAROWE, SOMALIA
1. Aerial shot, Garowe, capital city of Puntland, Somalia.
2. Wide shot, Disembarking from flight at General Mohamed Abshir International Airport in Garowe, the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Somalia, Catriona Laing, UN Secretary-General’s Deputy Special Representative for Somalia, UN Resident and Humanitarian coordinator, George Conway together with UN delegation.
3. Various long shots, UN convoy in Garowe
4. Wide shot, UN Special Representative Laing and UN Deputy Special Representative, UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, George Conway arriving at Puntland’s State House for a meeting with its President Said Abdullahi Deni and members of his cabinet
5. Various shots, UN Special Representative Laing and UN Deputy Special Representative for Somalia, UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, George Conway arriving at Puntland’s State House for a meeting with Puntlands President Said Abdullahi Deni and members of his cabinet
6. Wide shot, UN Special Representative Laing and Puntland’s President Said Abdullahi Deni at a press conference
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Catriona Laing, UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Somalia:
“I am very pleased to be here in Garowe. This is my fourth visit to Puntland since I started as the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative. I am very glad we had the opportunity to have an open and frank discussion. I congratulated President Deni on the appointment of his new cabinet, many of whom ministers we met this morning. We broadly discussed two sets of issues. The first is about the development program in Puntland, and I've seen the outline summary that the government has put together with the various pillars, which is very clear. I reassured the president that he has the support and the full commitment of the full UN family. I have George Conway with me today, who is my deputy who leads on development and humanitarian. For example, we discussed the potential around fisheries that Puntland has with the longest coastline within Somalia. If Puntland can get to the point where it can meet international standards, fisheries could be a great export opportunity as well as of course a source of nutrition and livelihoods domestically for the population. So, many opportunities, but also many challenges. One of the challenges we've discussed is the recent cholera outbreak, which is very serious here in Puntland and us the UN, are scaling up our support to help the government tackle the cholera problem.”
8. Various shots, UN Special Representative Laing and UN Deputy Special, UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, George Conway at Puntland’s State House for a meeting with Puntland’s President Said Abdullahi Deni and members of his cabinet.
9. SOUNDBITE (English) Catriona Laing, UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Somalia:
“The second set of issues we discussed is of course, around the ongoing amendments to the Constitution. The vote that took place in parliament yesterday and of course, I've seen the statement the government of Puntland has put out, and I clearly note their concerns on some substantive elements and also around the process. I was very pleased to hear from the president that he is committed to try and find a way through this to ensure that dialogue can continue with the federal government to ensure that there is an inclusive process and the whole country can come together...Thank you President Deni for being open to finding solutions to the current impasse. And we, the UN, through my good offices, are here to help find a way through this. The future of Somalia is at stake. The country, has so much potential and can't move forward without the full and inclusive participation of Puntland.”
10. Wide shot, UN Special Representative Laing and UN Deputy Special Representative, UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, George Conway having a discussion after the press conference with Puntland’s President Said Abdullahi Deni
11. Various shots, Garowe streets
12. Various shots, UN aircraft at the General Mohamed Abshir International Airport in Garowe.
As part of her regular engagement with Federal Member States (FMSs), the United Nations' top official for Somalia on Sunday visited Puntland for discussions on the state's development and humanitarian needs and political situation in the country.
"We had the opportunity to have an open and frank discussion. I congratulated President Deni on the appointment of his new cabinet," said the UN Secretary-General's Special Representative for Somalia, Catriona Laing.
The UN Special Representative who was accompanied by UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Somalia, George Conway, made the remarks in a joint media encounter with Puntland's President Said Abdullahi Deni, along with members of his cabinet and advisors.
Puntland Development Programme
Speaking of the discussions, the UN official said the first topic was around Puntland's development programme.
"I've seen the outline summary that the government has put together with the various pillars, which is very clear," said the UN official.
Ms. Laing reaffirmed the United Nations' commitment to working with and in support of the government and people of Puntlan
"I reassured the president that he has the support and the full commitment of the full UN family," said Ms. Laing.
She said the presence of Mr. Conway who leads on UN’s development and humanitarian efforts in Somalia was a demonstration of that commitment.
During the discussions on development, the focus was also on the potential of fisheries, considering that Puntland has the longest coastline within Somalia.
"If Puntland can get to the point where it can meet international standards, fisheries could be a great export opportunity as well as of course a source of nutrition and livelihoods domestically for the population," said Ms. Laing.
Nevertheless, she mentioned that despite the numerous development opportunities in Puntland, there are also several challenges to overcome.
"One of the challenges we've discussed is the recent cholera outbreak, which is very serious here in Puntland and the UN is scaling up our support to help the government tackle the cholera problem," said the UN Official.
According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), Puntland State, reported the highest cases numbering 351 with 23 deaths in the last four weeks, a spike attributed to limited access to safe water and open defecation especially in displacement sites, as well as resistance to common antibiotics.
UN partners - WHO, UNICEF and the Health and WASH Cluster, are working closely with the Ministry of Health and other government departments to address the situation.
