Officers honoured for critical contribution to Somalia

Seventeen uniformed personnel serving with the United Nations in Somalia have been honoured for their bravery while working in what the senior UN official in the country described as "an extremely challenging environment."

They were awarded the UN Special Services Medal during a ceremony held in the capital, Mogadishu, this past weekend.

The award recognizes military personnel and civilian police officers serving with the UN other than at established peacekeeping missions and UN Headquarters.

The officers are from military, police and corrections components with the UN Assistance Mission in the country, UNSOM, and the UN Support Office in Somalia (UNSOS).

UNSOM chief Michael Keating said their service was critical in a country which is undergoing what he called "a totally extraordinary political transition" following 35 years of conflict.

SOURCE: Dianne Penn, United Nations.