The International Office of Migration-IOM Chief of Mission – Mr. Ali Abdi gave a detailed brief on the various advancements made by the immigration department through partnership with the international body during the Opening Ceremony of Immigration Headquarters, Hargeisa 3rd of November, 2012
Read the full excerpt of the Chief of Mission speech
Your Excellency, President of Somaliland,
Honourable Ministers, Director Generals, Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is an honour for me to be here today in Hargeisa for the formal opening ceremony of the Immigration Headquarters building.
The Administration personnel of the Somaliland Department of Immigration are now able to effectively deliver integrated border management services. This building generously funded by the Government of Japan also hosts the central database for the passport registration and data collection system installed by IOM called Personal Identification and Registration System (PIRS).
IOM has been working with the Somaliland authorities to improve essential migration management capacities through practically training of hundreds of immigration, security and civil aviation officers; provision of equipment and IT systems for passenger inspections and the rehabilitation of four (4) selected ports-of-entry including Hargeisa, Wajale, Borama and Berbera.
The Somaliland Immigration Department was also provided with five base stations and repeaters as well as 48 VHF radio handsets to secure the communication between Immigration Headquarters in Hargeisa and the major ports-of-entry. Additionally, walkthrough and hand-held metal detectors as well as new uniforms for 100 immigration staff were provided.
Apart from the Capacity Building for Migration Management initiatives in Somaliland, which form part of an overall USD$6 million dollar programme, funded by the Government of Japan, IOM has also provided similar assistance to important key ports-of-entry in all three regions of the country.
The porous border situation seriously affects ordinary Somalis and hundreds of thousands of mixed migrants as it allows for trans-national crimes including trafficking and smuggling in human beings, smuggling of goods, arms trafficking and terrorism.
We seriously hope and expect that this building, the equipment and training provided by IOM with the generous funding by the Government of Japan will assist the Somaliland authorities to assist in meeting the growing operational challenges of migration management and uphold the human dignity and well-being of migrants.
Thank you very much.