In brief
- The UN Resident Coordinator for Somalia offered UN technical assistance in the designing and rebuilding of a safer Waheen marketplace during a visit to Hargeisa reported on 18 April 2022.
- The offer followed a week-long assessment by UN technical experts who worked with Somaliland authorities and the fire response committee on immediate, medium- and long-term support.
- A rebuilding offer is not evidence of completed design or construction, and the source records no as-built specification for the replacement market.
Contents
United Nations in Somalia reported on 18 April 2022 that the UN Resident Coordinator for Somalia, Adam Abdelmoula, visited Hargeisa and offered UN technical assistance in the designing and rebuilding of a new and safer Waheen marketplace. The visit followed a week-long assessment by UN technical experts who worked with Somaliland authorities and the fire response committee, according to the same report.
What the source records
The United Nations in Somalia reported that the team drew staff from nine UN agencies, funds and programmes, and that a joint preliminary assessment was presented to international donor partners in Nairobi. It states the UN Resident Coordinator met Minister of Planning and National Development Omar Ali Abdillahi and offered technical input for a fire-resistant, modern market compliant with best safety standards, designed to be environmentally friendly, accessible to people with disabilities, with facilities especially for women, and blending with local culture and traditions.
What it means on site
A market rebuild of this kind turns on layout and materials: separation between units, clear escape routes, fire-resistant construction, and services that can be maintained. From the source alone, none of that is settled. A designer working on any market reconstruction can ask the municipality for the fire response committee's findings and the fire service's access requirements, and can ask which specification a proposed fire-resistant build must satisfy. Confirm any material or layout requirement against the project specification or engineer rather than assuming a rule.
What the source does not establish
The source records an offer of assistance and intentions for a future market. It does not record an agreed design, a completed drawing, an approved scope, a budget or a built replacement. The assessment is described as preliminary, with further data collection and a more detailed report still in progress as of 18 April 2022. The source does not establish what the market looks like now, what was built, or whether any design met the stated safety, access and environmental aims. Offers of assistance are not evidence of delivery.
What to do next
Request the market reconstruction file from the Hargeisa municipality: the fire response committee's findings, the current site layout and the design basis for any replacement structure. Ask the municipal engineer's office which drawings and specifications are approved, and ask when they were issued.
Frequently asked questions
Did the UN rebuild the Waheen market?
The source reports an offer of technical assistance in designing and rebuilding, plus a preliminary assessment. It does not record construction, an approved design or a completed market.
What did the UN say the new market should include?
Fire-resistant construction, accessibility for people with disabilities, facilities especially for women, environmental measures, and design that blends with local culture and traditions, as reported by United Nations in Somalia on 18 April 2022.
Where can I find the current design for the market?
Ask the Hargeisa municipality and its engineer's office for approved drawings and specifications, and for the fire response committee's assessment findings.
Sources
Local reporting: this article is written for building work in Somaliland. Ground conditions, prices and rules differ between places; confirm the details for your own site.