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UN PhotoSOMALIA / UNOPS CHIEF VISIT
STORY: SOMALIA / UNOPS CHIEF VISIT
TRT: 08:53
SOURCE: UNTMIS
RESTRICTIONS: PLEASE CREDIT UNTMIS ON SCREEN
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS
DATELINE: 13-14 APRIL 2025, MOGADISHU, SOMALIA
13 APRIL 2025, MOGADISHU, SOMALIA
1. Various shots, the UN Under-Secretary-General and United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) Executive Director, Jorge Moreira da Silva, is received at Aden Abdulle Airport by the UNOPS Somalia Country Director, Ala’a Nemer, and other UNOPS senior officials
2. Various shots, Jorge Moreira da Silva, George Conway, and other UN officials in a meeting
3. SOUNDBITE (English) Jorge Moreira da Silva, UN Under-Secretary-General and United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) Executive Director:
“Our commitment with the country is a commitment on sustainable development and sustainable development starts with peace and it continues with people centered approach, protecting people from crises and supporting them on recovery, on the development pathway and we are committed to doing so, to stay and deliver.”
4. Various shots, Jorge Moreira da Silva, George Conway, and other UN officials in a meeting
5. SOUNDBITE: (English) Jorge Moreira da Silva, the UN Under-Secretary-General and United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) Executive Director:
“In these two days I have seen the impact of our projects, the Blood Bank that we constructed with the partnership of the UNFPA, WHO and the Government created for the first time in Somalia and infrastructure that is a lifesaving infrastructure.”
6. Wide shot, UNOPS offices in Somalia
7. Various shots, the UNOPS staff members during the inauguration of the UNOPS office in Somalia
8. SOUNDBITE (English) Jorge Moreira da Silva, the UN Under-Secretary-General and United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) Executive Director:
“This is not just an office, this is not just a building, a place where you work and some of you also stay overnight. This is a signal of commitment to the people we serve.”
9. Various shots, the UNOPS staff members during the inauguration of the UNOPS office
in Somalia
10. SOUNDBITE (English) Jorge Moreira da Silva, the UN Under-Secretary-General and United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) Executive Director:
“I expressed already, in my meeting with my colleagues, the huge admiration for the work that we are doing here and the fact that they have been able to convene all the agencies, all the system into this mission, the mission of supporting the country, supporting the people and staying and deliver.”
11. Wide shot –Jorge Moreira da Silva, George Conway, UN Deputy Special Representative for Somalia (DSRSG), Raisedon Zenenga, and other UN officials cut the ribbon
12. SOUNDBITE (English) George Conway, UN Deputy Special Representative for Somalia and Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Somalia:
“I do believe it demonstrates a very strong commitment of UNOPS to its engagement in Somalia, to alignment with national priorities, and to working together as part of a one UN team, towards achieving those national priorities.”
13. Various shots, Jorge Moreira da Silva, Raisedon Zenenga, and other UN officials in a meeting
14. Various shots, Jorge Moreira da Silva, UNOPS Somalia Country Director, Ala’a Nemer, and other senior officials cut the cake at the inauguration ceremony
15. Various shots, Jorge Moreira da Silva is shown activities undertaken by UNOPS in Somalia
16. Wide shot, Jorge Moreira da Silva takes a group photo with some of the UNOPS officials
14 APRIL 2025, MOGADISHU, SOMALIA
17. Various shots, equipment being donated to the Somali National Army
18. Wide shot, the EU Ambassador to Somalia, Karin Johansson, hands over the car keys to the Somali National Army representatives
19. SOUNDBITE (English) Karin Johansson, EU Ambassador to Somalia:
“With this equipment that we are providing, since our partnership a few years ago with UNOPS, we hope that this donation with facilitate efforts in the field.”
20. Various shots, equipment being donated to the Somali National Army
21. SOUNDBITE (English) Jorge Moreira da Silva, the UN Under-Secretary-General and United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) Executive Director:
“With this handing over of the Ambulance and the truck, we are not only handing over these two commodities but also presenting a signal of the strong partnership with European Union, with the SNA and I think that this is a testimony of the relevant partnership that started in 2019.”
22. Wide shot, group photo
23. Various shots, Jorge Moreira da Silva heading to the Banadir Hospital
24. Various shots, Banadir Hospital
25. Various shots, receptionist at the hospital typing on a computer
26. Wide shot, Jorge Moreira da Silva, Director General, Ministry of Health, Guled Abdijalil, Director of the Blood Bank, Abdirhaman Hassan Mohamed, and other officials on a guided tour of the hospital
27. Various shots, equipment used at the hospital
28. Various shots, Jorge Moreira da Silva, Guled Abdijalil, Abdirhaman Hassan Mohamed, and other officials on a guided tour of the hospital
29. Various shots, equipment used at the hospital
30. Close up, a nurse stores packets of blood in the refrigerator at the hospital
31. Various shots, Jorge Moreira da Silva, Guled Abdijalil, Abdirhaman Hassan Mohamed, and other officials on a guided tour of the hospital
32. Various shots, Jorge Moreira da Silva, Guled Abdijalil, Abdirhaman Hassan Mohamed, and other officials in a meeting at the hospital
33. Wide shot, group photo
On a two-day visit to Mogadishu, UNOPS chief Jorge Moreira da Silva reaffirmed the UN’s commitment to Somalia’s peace and development, inaugurating a new country office, touring key health and infrastructure projects, and strengthening partnerships with Somali authorities and international donors.
On his first visit to Somalia, the United Nations Under-Secretary General (USG) and Executive Director of the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS), Jorge Moreira da Silva, reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to supporting Somalia’s peacebuilding efforts and helping it achieve its development goals.
“Our commitment in Somalia focuses on peace and development. Sustainable progress starts with peace and continues through a people-centred approach, which involves protecting individuals from crises and supporting them on their path to recovery,” said da Silva, concluding his two-day visit in the capital, Mogadishu.
During his trip, da Silva met with the Deputy Prime Minister of the Federal Government of Somalia, Abdisalam Abdi Ali, and the Minister of Environment and Climate Change, Bashir Mohamed Jama.
“We stand with the people of Somalia in their fight against terrorism and in their efforts towards peace and stability. And I highlighted our commitment to support in my meeting with Somalia’s Deputy Prime Minister, Abdisalam Abdi Ali,” said da Silva.
He also met with senior UN leadership, including the Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Somalia, Raisedon Zenenga, and the Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General, UN Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator for Somalia, George Conway.
On the first day of his visit, the USG inaugurated the newly constructed UNOPS Somalia country office, commemorating the organisation’s 30 years of service in the country.
“For thirty years, we have been supporting the people of Somalia, working with the government and other partners to help strengthen the capacity of Somali institutions and to deliver projects in critical sectors, including health, transport, governance and peace and security,” said da Silva.
Present at the opening, the UN Deputy Special Representative, George Conway, emphasised that the commissioning of the new building reaffirmed UNOPS's commitment to Somalia, contributing significantly to various sectors such as peace and security, policing, corrections, transport and urban infrastructure and health.
“It demonstrates a profound commitment of UNOPS to its engagement in Somalia, to alignment with national priorities, and to working together as one UN towards achieving Somalia’s national priorities,” Conway said.
On the second day of his visit, da Silva and his delegation toured the National Blood Bank at the Banadir Hospital, a facility constructed by UNOPS funded by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), in collaboration with the World Health Organisation (WHO), UN Women, and the government of Somalia. He witnessed firsthand the project’s significant impact on saving lives through urgent blood donations.
“In these two days I have seen the impact of our projects; the blood bank that we constructed with the partnership of the UNFPA, WHO and the government created for the first time in Somalia is a lifesaving infrastructure,” said da Silva. The blood bank is equipped with state-of-the-art technology, capable of storing up to 10,000 units of donated blood and screening, preparing, and securely storing blood and blood products.
“Our support to strengthening the health system in Somalia goes beyond this. We are also working with Somalia’s Ministry of Health to increase access to healthcare by constructing and rehabilitating six regional hospitals and a central cold chain facility,” he added.
The USG also handed over an ambulance and a truck to the Somali National Army (SNA) as part of a project funded by the European Peace Facility (EPF), highlighting the robust partnership between UNOPS and the EU.
The EU Ambassador to Somalia, Karin Johansson, praised the bravery of SNA soldiers battling Al Shabaab and noted that the equipment handover was part of the €110 million support that the EU is providing to the SNA. The equipment was handed over to Colonel Ahmed Muse of the SNA.
“With this equipment, provided through our partnership with UNOPS over the past few years, we hope this support will facilitate efforts in the field,” said the EU Ambassador.
“I saw the efforts of my colleagues to build the operational capacities of the Somali National Army by providing non-lethal support. Funded by the European Peace Facility, this work is key to advancing peace and security and the rule of law in Somalia,” added da Silva.
With national ownership and capacity development as key priorities, UNOPS works closely with partners to help strengthen the capacity of Somali institutions and supports a range of activities on behalf of partners in critical sectors – including health, governance, peace and security.
From constructing climate-resilient infrastructure and supporting enhancements to the security sector, to implementing disaster preparedness planning and crisis recovery projects, UNOPS works collectively with partners to support reconstruction and state-building in Somalia.
“As we look to the future, we want to build on our support so far, to offer practical solutions that respond to needs and help build a better, more resilient future for the people of Somalia,” said da Silva.
UNOPS’ Executive Director visit to Somalia is part of his week-long mission to the Horn of Africa, which will also take him to Sudan and Ethiopia to meet with officials and partners and see the impact of UNOPS' support on local communities.
