Somalia - IOM distributed fishing equipment to 90 fishermen residing within the internally displaced settlements in Berbera, Somaliland and Bossaso, Puntland to support recovery of drought affected communities who rely heavily on fishing for their daily livelihood. The equipment consisted of fishing nets and hooks, ice box coolers, safety jackets, tables and chairs.

This assistance is being provided in addition to the ongoing capacity building in fisheries management training being provided by local authorities with the support of IOM to Bossaso fishery communities. The equipment training, which is funded by Japan, targeted 45 beneficiaries (18 women and 27 men). It was designed to equip youth and vulnerable members of displaced communities with skills that create job opportunities.

On Tuesday 3 May 2016, community leaders, government officials, and members of the fisheries community gathered in Bossaso to officiate over the project’s closing ceremony.

Mohamed Musse Jama, one of the trainees, said: “Before I joined this training, I thought I knew all there is to know about fishing because these skills are passed from one generation to the next. Now that I have completed the training, I am surprised at how much more there is to learn! My future is right here at home. You will not see me drifting out to sea on a boat.”

Mohamud Mohamed Gabah, Vice Minister of Puntland’s Ministry of Fishing and Sea Resources said:  “At a time when we are losing so many of our young men and women at sea, no projects are more important that the ones that enable our youth to create their own jobs and take charge of their destiny. What they cross the sea in search for is in fact right here! In addition to this project, IOM has supported our ministry to launch several projects such as boat rescues, construction of sheds, and numerous capacity building sessions for our fishing community.”

For further information, please contact Heidrun Salzer at IOM Somalia, Tel: + 254 733 770 533, Email:  hsalzer@iom.int