Benadir Regional Administration launches the Durable Solutions Unit

3 February 2019 – MOGADISHU

Benadir Regional Administration officially launched the Durable Solution Unit (DSU) on Friday, January 31^st  under the office of the Governor and Mayor of Mogadishu, H.E. Abdurahman Omar Osman (Eng. Yarisow).  The unit is responsible for coordinating and consolidating various solutions programming aimed at supporting displacement affected communities in the nation’s capital.  

The event brought together various stakeholders from all levels of government, international partners, foreign dignitaries INGO/NGOs, private sector, and civil society members for the sole purpose of addressing protracted displacement and finding sustainable solutions for displacement affected communities in the region. 

Large-scale displacements due to drought, rural-urban migration trends, returnees from neighboring countries and the return of diaspora at large have accelerated rates of urbanization in Somalia.  In particular, Mogadishu hosts the largest urban displacement with over 500,000 of the 2.6 million internally displaced in the country (over 60% of the displaced population being youth).

The Deputy Prime Minister H.E. Mahdi Mohamed Gulleid emphasized the need of fostering unity in finding a local solution to end displacement.

“…displacement in Somalia is one of the biggest priorities for the Federal Government. We must ensure that all our citizens are afforded with opportunities to rebuild their lives as quickly as possible,” affirmed the Deputy Prime Minister.

Most of Mogadishu’s IDPs prefer to locally integrate and large number of refugee returnees from neighboring countries prefer Mogadishu as their preferred destination. As the second fastest urbanizing city in the world, the city faces serious challenges and must develop an inclusive city plan to tackle critical issues such as large-scale displacement.

“The launch this morning is incredibly important for several reasons but mostly because we are taking leadership in slowly phasing out displacement in a socially just and dignified way,” said Mayor Osman.

The Mayor also appealed to the Federal Government and International Community to work together in securing a more dignified solutions for displacement-affected communities.

“With your support (FGS and partners), our vision is to ensure that all displaced people have access to secure housing and land tenure, employment, and critical infrastructure such as schools and hospitals where they live,” Said Mayor Yarisow. George Conway, UNDP Country Director assured the DSU and BRA of full support to bring an end to protracted displacement in Mogadishu.

“On this new approach, I commend the government of taking the lead in finding a local solution. We stand in support of all the policies in place and looking to work with DSU closely. Our collective accountability should ensure the needs of the displaced are addressed,” said Mr. Conway.