Inauguration of 87 Shelter Units for IDP’s & Urban Poor in Hargeisa

The celebrations of World Habitat Day coincided with the completion and inauguration of 87 shelter units handed over to Municipality of Hargeisa. A faction to celebrate the WHD and handing over of the completed houses was held at the Ayah II Shelter Project site. The ceremony was attended by a wide range of government ministries and representatives of UN and International organizations. Among others the government officials that attended the gathering included, Minister of Family Affairs and Social Development, Vice Minister of National Planning and Coordination, Vice Minister of Ministry of RR&R, Mayor of Hargeisa town and members of local council. Similarly, UN sister agencies and International organizations that attended the faction included WFP, UNDP, UNHCR, UNOCHA and Resident Coordinator. In addition, the people at Ayaha turned in their hundreds to witness the hand over of the first 87 shelter units along with the celebrations of World Habitat Day.

With financial assistance from the Government of Japan and with Food-for-Assets support from WFP, UN-HABITAT has tried to address the issue of secure tenure, adequate housing, technical skills training and economic development, here at Ayaha-II settlement. The result is that today, on World Habitat Day, we are able to handover the first completed 4 blocks of 87 housing units to the Municipality of Hargeisa. Tenure agreements have been finalized for the first 87 beneficiary households; these will be signed in a separate ceremony between the Municipality and the beneficiaries.

This would be the most important step taken towards making our cities more safe and more just as these 87 poor families will have permanent shelter to live. Also, in the coming months, UN-Habitat is planning to hand over almost 86 shelter units to be resided by IDP’s and urban poor.

The mayor of Hargeisa cut the ribbon of this project and would sign the agreement with the beneficiaries who have won the lottery process early in the conception of the project.

Abdirahman Adan
Hargeisa