In brief
- United Nations in Somalia reported on 18 April 2022 that a rebuilt Waheen marketplace would be designed with facilities especially for women, alongside fire-resistant and accessible design.
- The statement sets out proposed design inputs and technical assistance, not construction work that had been agreed or completed.
- Layouts, fixtures and operating arrangements for those facilities are not described in the source.
Contents
United Nations in Somalia reported on 18 April 2022 that a rebuilt Waheen marketplace in Hargeisa would be designed to be fire-resistant, environmentally friendly, accessible to people with disabilities, and with facilities especially for women. The statement followed a UN technical team's week-long visit to assess support after the market fire.
What the source records
The UN Resident Coordinator for Somalia, Adam Abdelmoula, offered UN technical assistance in designing a fire-resistant, modern market compliant with best safety standards, and said it would include facilities especially for women, blend with local culture, and be accessible to people with disabilities, according to United Nations in Somalia. The same statement records the market spread over five square kilometres, with an estimated 5,000 businesses and income for 17,000 merchants and workers.
What it means on site
For a design team, the women's facilities item sits in a brief, not a drawing. It can cover toilets, washing points, secure stalls, childcare or circulation that women stallholders can reach safely. Which of these was intended depends on the assessment report still being prepared with Somaliland partners, the source says. Ask for the design brief and drawings to see what was actually specified, then check whether doors, locks, lighting and water points match the agreed list before fixtures are ordered.
What the source does not establish
Recommendations and offers of assistance are not evidence the replacement market met these requirements. The statement records proposals for the medium and longer term, not a completed design or built work. Its figures and descriptions are as of 18 April 2022. It does not say who would fund, design, approve or operate the women's facilities, how many there would be, or where they would stand. A signed design contract, approved drawing set or handover record would show the present state.
What to do next
Request the design brief and approved drawings from the Hargeisa municipality or the market reconstruction committee, and ask which women's facilities were specified, in what number and location. Compare that list with what was built before accepting any handover.
Frequently asked questions
Did the rebuilt Waheen market include the women's facilities the UN described?
The 18 April 2022 statement does not say. It records the design intent and UN offers of technical assistance. Ask the Hargeisa municipality or the reconstruction committee for the design brief, drawings and handover record for the present state.
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.