Sunday 21 Sep 2025 {HMC} In times of conflict, the care of the wounded and sick is a basic responsibility shared by all those involved – without distinction. This is precisely what international humanitarian law (IHL) calls for.

The first five minutes of a medical emergency are often the most decisive. At that moment, the first point of care is not a hospital; it is you and me. At any one point in our lives, anyone can find themselves in a situation that calls them to act, stepping into the role of a first responder.

Seamless, uninterrupted care can greatly determine the outcome of a tragic incident. This chain of events, right from first aid on the ground through prehospital care, to transportation and finally hospital admission, is only as strong as its first link. And first aid proudly takes that mantle. It is the first knot tied in a moment of crisis, the link that bridges a person in distress to hope, to professional help, and ultimately to healing.

On this World First Aid Day, we celebrate all those who step up. We honour the hands that hold life steady in those critical minutes – the trainees, the volunteers, the skilled paramedics, and the community members who make the conscious choice to be that unbreakable first link. Their actions set everything else in motion.

With support from the ICRC, the Somali Red Crescent Society (SRCS), operates a nationwide First Aid and Prehospital care programme designed to ensure Somalis in need, are never alone in their times of crisis.

satarday 20 Sep 2025 {HMC}  Attending the launch of a national plan to counter the threat posed by Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) across Somalia, the United Nations today commended Somali authorities on the move and welcomed the “important step forward.”

“This [National Counter-IED] Strategy is the product of Somali leadership, developed with determination and foresight. It builds on the Baseline Assessment launched in February 2023, which provided the foundation for this nationally owned framework to address one of the most persistent threats to Somalia’s security and stability,” said the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Somalia, James Swan.

“Work has already begun. Even as the Strategy was being drafted, Somali institutions and international partners were taking steps to operationalize many of its priorities. Today’s finalization therefore does not mark a beginning but rather provides a unifying framework to consolidate and guide efforts already underway.”

“The United Nations remains committed to working alongside you to help translate this Strategy into lasting results,” he added.

Mr. Swan was addressing the launch of the National Counter-IED Strategy in the capital, Mogadishu. The event was organized by the Central Monitoring Department (CMD), and attended by a range of senior officials from the Federal Government of Somalia (FGS) and the international community.

In addition to Mr. Swan, they included Somalia’s National Security Advisor, Awes Hagi Yusuf Ahmed; the Minister of Defence, Ahmed Moalim Fiqi; the Minister of Internal Security, Abdullahi Sheikh Ismail; the Officer-in-Charge of the UN Support Office in Somalia (UNSOS) and Director of Mission Support, Qurat-Ul-Ain Sadozai; the Chief of the UN Mine Action Service (UNMAS) Programme in Somalia, Fran O’Grady; and representatives from the African Union, United States of America, United Kingdom and European Union.

Across Somalia, IEDs are a primary weapon of choice for the Al-Shabaab terrorist group and continue to pose a significant threat to peace and security.

Implementation next

In his remarks, Mr. Swan highlighted the importance of next steps for the Strategy.

“The challenge now lies in sustained implementation. With continued national resolve, and with coordinated and focused support from international partners, this Strategy can strengthen Somalia’s capacity to mitigate the threat of IED, protect the Somali people, and reinforce peace and security,” the UN Special Representative said.

In their remarks to the event, the FGS officials highlighted a series of measures that will be put in place to support the plan’s effective implementation, in addition to noting the significance of the strategy.

“This is a historic milestone for our country-never before have we had a unified, nationally owned framework to address the IED threat,” said National Security Advisor Ahmed. “This strategy represents a decisive shift from reactive measures to a proactive, intelligence-led approach anchored in national ownership. It integrates intelligence-led operations, precursor control, capacity building, legal reform, and civilian engagement into one coherent framework. It also embeds continuous technological and tactical reassessment, establishment of a national electronic tracking system for precursor materials and creates a fast- tracking mechanism to update laws as threats evolve.”

“This strategy is a critical step in translating existing policies into practical actions. As a ministry, we will expand and train the explosive disposal units of the Somali National Army. We will also ensure that law enforcement agencies and intelligence teams are able to collaborate effectively in identifying and preventing explosive threats before they happen,” said Minister Fiqi.

“Furthermore, we will provide post-operation response reports, which will be shared with the National Counter-IED Centre, to be established following the validation of this strategy. Upon its completion, we will continue working closely with the Office of National Security – particularly the Weapons, Ammunition, and IED Threat Monitoring Department – to jointly prepare a national work plan to combat explosives.”

Addressing the attendees, Minister for Internal Security Ismail noted that the finalization of the strategy was proof of the FGS’ commitment to ridding the country of IEDs.

“The Ministry of Internal Security has a role in the implementation of this strategy, and it will play an important role in legalising this strategy by formulating laws and regulations to address the challenges of IEDs. The Ministry is responsible for controlling the chemical used in making IEDs through its active participation into the National Committee to Counter IEDs. That committee will be constituted once this strategy is validated,” Mr. Ismail said.

UN support

In 2024, there were more than 1,400 casualties caused by IEDs across Somalia.

Through UNMAS, the United Nations in Somalia provides training and equipment to Somali security forces, including Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) teams.

This training enhances their capabilities to detect and dispose of IEDs, reducing the risk to civilians and security personnel, with the Somali National Army’s EOD teams registering significant success in locating and clearing IEDs.

Additionally, UNMAS works with Somali security institutions to develop their national explosive threat mitigation capabilities. This includes providing policy and technical advice, mentoring, and advisory services to support the Somali government’s efforts to manage and mitigate IED threats.

From 2021 to early this year, UNMAS trained and equipped 61 of the national army’s EOD teams and trained trainers to ensure sustainability of capacity development efforts. UNMAS has also trained the Somali Police Force – through funding from the Government of Japan – resulting in a total of 21 trained and equipped EOD teams among the police force.