Somalia: Puntland officials and UN delegation visit Eyl

[FBISOMALIA]

EYL, Somalia Mar 18 2012 (Garowe Online) – A Puntland government delegation led by Minister of Ports and Anti Piracy Saeed Mohamed Rage accompanied by UN delegation traveled to the coastal town of Eyl, Radio Garowe reports.

The delegation arrived in Eyl Sunday morning and were welcomed by a huge crowd who gathered to watch as officials visited some sites in Eyl by foot. The coastal town was once a former pirate hub but after the crackdown on piracy by the Puntland government, pirates fled from Eyl and were also forced out in Gara’ad some 130 kms south of Eyl.

Minister Rage was accompanied by officials from the ministry of security, ministry of internal affairs, officials from UNODC, UNDP, UNDSS. The delegation met with district authorities, community leaders and different civil society members.

The purpose of the trip was to assess,observe and monitor the needs and progress of the community after successfully forcing out pirates from Eyl. Minister Rage and his delegation were assessing the progress of development projects that are being conducted in Eyl.

Minister Rage and his delegation visited the construction site of the Puntland Maritime Police Force’s (PMPF) base. Among other locations visited by the delegation was the local hospital, police station, district headquarters and neighboring villages near Eyl.

The PMPF have been constructing a headquarters in Eyl after entering the coastal town earlier this year.

GAROWE ONLINE

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