UN Trains Somali, AU Officers to Strengthen Aviation Safety

MOGADISHU, Xinhua: The United Nations Support Office in Somalia (UNSOS) said on Wednesday that 21 aviation personnel have completed specialized training, enabling them to respond effectively to aviation emergencies at airports and main operating bases in the East African country.

UNSOS said the Aviation Rescue and Firefighting Training equipped participants with essential skills to handle air incidents and protect lives in Somalia.

“We aim to build capacity and impart unique skill sets to Somali nationals, enabling them to take on these critical responsibilities and meet international standards,” Ernest Manzano, chief of aviation services at UNSOS, said in a statement issued in Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia.

The training drew participants from the Somali Civil Aviation Authority (SCAA) and the African Union (AU) Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia, representing various airports across the country.

Manzano, who lauded the Somali government for supporting this capacity-building program, said the training marked a pivotal moment in strengthening Somalia’s ability to secure its air operations and aviation infrastructure.

The training covered key aspects of aviation emergency response, including emergency medical care, aircraft rescue and firefighting, tactical ventilation, fire behavior, and firefighting safety and health.

Burhan Bade, director of aviation safety at SCAA, praised UNSOS for its commitment to cultivating a skilled workforce devoted to the safety and security of Somalia’s aviation industry.

Muthir Abdirahman Yussuf, a 23-year-old graduate from Mogadishu Aviation College, said he will harness the skills gained from the training to contribute to the aviation sector in Somalia by ensuring the safety and security of local and international passengers in emergencies.

UNSOS, which is mandated to provide logistical support to the AU and UN missions in Somalia as well as the Somali Security Forces, also conducts capacity-building programs for Somali aviation personnel, with the ultimate goal of developing the country’s aviation industry.