STORY: Somalia honours women humanitarian workers

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LANGUAGE: ENGLISH NATURAL SOUND
DATELINE: 19/AUGUST/2019, MOGADISHU, SOMALIA

SHOT LIST:
1. Wide shot, guests at the event to mark the World Humanitarian Day in Mogadishu
2. Med shot, Werner Schultink, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Country
Representative for Somalia attending
3. Wide shot, representatives from non-government organisations at the event
4. Close up shot, a guest at the event
5. Med shot, guests at the event
6. Wide shot, guests at the event
7. Wide shot, guests listening to the speech by the Somali Federal Minister of
Humanitarian Coordination and Disaster Management, Hamza Said Hamza
8. SOUNDBITE: (English) Hamza Said Hamza, Somalia’s Federal Minister of
Humanitarian Coordination and Disaster Management
"As a government, we salute the women working in the humanitarian sector and
acknowledge that they have fundamental challenges such as insecurity, patriarchal
attitudes and harassment on a daily basis. They face tremendous challenges on the
ground. I am convinced that we need to use a real platform to address these
challenges for the women (in this) field,"

9. Pan shot, guests at the event

10. Close up shot, a guest taking notes during the event
11. Close up shot, guests listening to Werner Schultink, the United Nations Children’s
Fund (UNICEF) Country Representative for Somalia
12. SOUNDBITE: (English) Werner Schultink, UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Country
Representative for Somalia
“Evidence shows that when women are involved in humanitarian action, including at
the decision-making level and at the leadership levels, the humanitarian response is
more effective and also more inclusive. This is why many humanitarian organisations
including the UN, are striving to achieve gender parity,”

13. Med shot, guests listening to a speech at the event

14. Wide shot, Abigail Hartley, the Deputy Head of Office-UNOCHA Somalia listening
15. Med shot, Somali women leaders at the event
16. Wide shot, guests at the event
17. SOUNDBITE: (English) Amina Haji Elmi, Founder of NGO Save Somalia Women
and Children
"To be a female aid worker in Somalia (means) a lot. It is an opportunity, risky and
challenging (at the same time). It is an opportunity to reach out to women, children
and the elderly affected by disasters and respond to their needs."

18. Med shot, guests taking notes during the event

19. Close up shot, a guest listening during the event
20. Wide shot, guests at the event
21. SOUNDBITE: (English) Nasra Ismail, Director of Somalia Non-Governmental
Consortium
"A day like today, is a bright one even amongst the people we have unfortunately
lost this year. However, (despite the challenges) we are still grateful and we are
going to keep the charge going and our light will not deem until we can work (with
everyone in need) so that they are able to live their lives fully."

22. Wide shot, guests at the event to mark the World Humanitarian Day
23. Med shot, Aisha Ashur Ugas, a civil society activist receiving a certificate in
recognition of her humanitarian work
24. Med shot, Deqa Yasin, the Somali Federal Minister of Women and Human Rights
Development
25. Close up shot, a certificate
26. Wide shot, Aisha Ashur Ugas receiving a certificate

Somalia honours women humanitarian workers

Mogadishu, 19 August 2019 – As part of the observance of World Humanitarian Day,

Somalia today highlighted the contribution made by women humanitarians to
peacebuilding efforts in the country.
“As the government of Somalia, we salute the women working in the humanitarian
sector and despite the challenges they are facing, their courage and patriotism in
serving this country is an effort worth emulating,” said Somalia’s Minister of
Humanitarian Coordination and Disaster Management, Hamza Said Hamza.

The minister was speaking in the capital, Mogadishu, at a celebration of the Day,
organized by the federal government with the support of various UN agencies,
including the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

Speaking on behalf of the UN system in Somalia, the representative of the UN

Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Werner Schultink, called for more involvement of women
in humanitarian activities and flagged that there was proof that humanitarian
responses were more effective when women are active players in the decision-
making processes.

“Evidence shows that when women are involved in humanitarian action, including at
the decision-making level, the humanitarian response is more effective,” Mr.
Schultink said.

The theme of this year’s World Humanitarian Day 2019 is centred around honouring
the work of women in crises throughout the world, recognizing that they make up a
large number of those who risk their own lives to save others and are often the first
to respond in crises and the last to leave.

Recognizing local efforts

At today’s celebration a veteran activist and humanitarian worker, Aisha Shaur Ugas,
was nominated as Somalia’s humanitarian person of the year for her role in
championing the rights of women and children and advocating for gender equality.
Her colleague, Amina Haji Elmi, the founder of Save Somali Women and Children
(SSWC), was also cited for her role in aiding victims of gender-based violence.

In her remarks to the gathering, the director of the Somalia Non-governmental

Organization Consortium, Nasra Ali Ismail, described Ms. Elmi and Ms. Ugas as
patriots for opting to work in Somalia during its civil war while some of their
colleagues sought refuge in foreign countries.

Ms. Ismail went on to note how women humanitarians sustained communities

during the civil war by taking care of families and providing for vulnerable groups,
while the men were away fighting.
“Since most of our men were either involved in the conflict or were also victims in
one way or another, women were at the forefront in supporting children, women
and the elderly who could only flee from their homes to seek safety,” she said.

Ms. Ismail added that Somali women also contributed to peacebuilding by playing an
informal role in conflict resolution between and within Somali clans during the
height of the civil war.

While thanking participants for honouring her work, Ms. Elmi urged women
humanitarians to continue fighting for vulnerable members of society despite the
cultural and socio-economic challenges they may face.

“Although it is an honour to serve in the humanitarian sector in Somalia, it is at the

same time risky, especially when dealing with sensitive violations such as rape and
sexual violence in Somalia,” said Ms. Amina. “Our field monitors and psychosocial
support providers – who are mainly women –continue to face threats and pressure
from different groups in Somalia.”

Celebrated every year on 19 August, World Humanitarian Day is aimed at honouring

humanitarian efforts and advocating for the safety and security of humanitarian aid
workers, and for the survival, well-being and dignity of people affected by crises.

The date was chosen in relation to a terrorist attack on the UN offices in Baghdad on
19 August 2003, which killed 22 UN workers, including the Secretary-General’s
Special Representative to Iraq, Sérgio Vieira de Mello.

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