Mogadishu Police Say Eviction Ultimatum for Fire Department Area Lapsed as Demolitions Begin

GOOBJOOG NEWS/MOGADISHU: Somali Police Force has said the people living at the site of the former Fire Department in Mogadishu were given enough time to evacuate ahead of today’s demolitions.

Police spokesman Col. Abdifitah Hassan said the evacuation ultimatum expired today paving the way for the Fire Department to demolish buildings in the area located in Wadajir district.

An earlier order lapsed in late April causing a stand-off between residents and security agencies. The demolitions stopped after Galmudug President Ahmed Qorqor intervened.

Addressing journalists in Mogadishu today, police spokesman Col Hassan said there was an urgent need to reconstruct the Fire Department to avert many fires which have been witnessed in the city.

He noted that police records indicate that 147 fire incidents have been reported in the recent past and that there was insufficient capacity by the Fire Department.

He noted that the military had assisted with the evacuation of some of the families but it was not clear where they were relocated.