Sunday, 18 th August 2024: The National Commission for Refugees and IDPs (NCRI), under the leadership of Commissioner Safia Hassan Mohamed, hosted a farewell ceremony for the outgoing Chief of Mission for IOM Somalia, Mr. Frantz Celestin. The event took place at the NCRI Waystation in Mogadishu and was attended by members of the displacement-affected communities, including refugee returnees and internally displaced persons (IDPs).
In her speech, Commissioner Safia praised Mr. Celestin’s leadership and his significant contributions to the well-being and protection of forcibly displaced communities in Somalia. She emphasized to the attending communities the importance of bridging the gap between Somalia’s international partners, who are eager to support the most vulnerable, and the members of those communities. She further reaffirmed that the National Commission for Refugees and IDPs, as the legally mandated body for addressing the challenges faced by these communities, is committed to continuing this vital work in the future.
Members of the IDP and refugee returnee communities also shared their experiences, highlighting the benefits they received from IOM Somalia during Mr. Celestin’s tenure and discussing their ongoing challenges and needs.
In his remarks, Mr. Celestin, who has been promoted to IOM Regional Director, reaffirmed the International Organization for Migration’s commitment to standing alongside NCRI. He stressed the importance of creating an ecosystem that provides direct support to these communities and expressed his dedication to helping them chart their own paths forward.
