STORY: SOMALIA - FIREFIGHTERS TRT: 2:55 SOURCE: AU/UN IST RESTRICTIONS: This media asset is free for editorial broadcast, print, online and radio use. It is not to be sold on and is restricted for other purposes. All enquiries to news@auunist.org CREDIT REQUIRED: AU/UN IST LANGUAGE: ENGLISH /NATS DATELINE: RECENT / MOGADISHU, SOMALIA SHOTLIST: http://bit.ly/VQxDoX PHOTOS: http://on.fb.me/TZO1jK STORY: The Mogadishu fire department is resuming operations for the first time since 1991 when civil war broke out in Somalia. Firefighters in the capital have recently completed an intensive training course organised by the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM). Basic public services like firefighting, healthcare and sanitation were neglected by extremist group al-Shabaab who controlled parts of the capital and country until the Somali National Army drove them out with the support of AMISOM. SOUNDBITE (English) Abdulahi Mohammed, Trainee; “We could be real firefighters and the grassroots and Somalians they will depend on us. There has been a lot of fire incidents, that we couldn’t, we ourselves couldn’t control.” AMISOM’s firefighting department instructed the 16 Somali trainees in current techniques and first aid skills, for a three-week period. SOUNDBITE (English) Lt. General Charles Luwero, AMISOM Firefigher: “Their moral is too high, because they have got a chance they never expected, and they have been having problems of fires in town. And by the time we come, their property, everything is gone. So they really, they are looking forward to see that they can grasp whatever they can grasp, so that they can fight that fire.” The Mayor of Mogadishu, Mohamud Mohammed Noor and the AMISOM Force Commander, Lt. General Andrew Gutti presided over the graduation ceremony which was held at the Somali National Stadium on February 02, 2013. SOUNDBITE(English) Mohamud Mohammed Noor, Mayor of Mogadishu: “We are very proud to have this young people that start to be a fire fighters department for the region of Banadiir. It’s a great day for us, it’s a great day for all of us and thank you very much for the well done job.” Noor also thanked AMISOM for the support the Mission was giving to the Somali people and announced plans to construct a fire station within the city. The fire department will be equipped with three fire engines, which have been donated by UK-based Somali NGOs Alqra Aid and heavily discounted by manufacturers Angloco Limited. Five of the graduates will soon proceed to Kenya - one of AMISOM’s troop-contributing countries - for further training.
