Hargeisa-A high Level delegation from the United Arab Emirates today arrived in the country today and were received by Hon Bashe Awil omar, Somaliland Ambassador to the UAE at the Egal International Airport.
The delegation from the Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Foundation (KF) is visiting the country to assess the needs of the Somali people so as to alleviate their suffering as a result of the drought. This comes in view of the directives of President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan and the orders of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, to provide humanitarian assistance to the Somali people.
Ambassador Bashe Awil Omer speaking during the press conference held at the Egal International airport VIP lounge said, “I very happy to welcome our brothers the UAE, as you’re well aware of the country has being severe drought for quite some time now which has immensely affected both the lives of people and citizens, recently H.E President Ahmed Mohamed Mahmoud Silanyo appointed Vice President Abdurrahman Abdulahi Ismail Saylic to head a committee tasked with researching and evaluating the scope of the drought and finding ways to solve the hardship faced by most affected people.
“We are all aware of the current campaign launched by the government of President Silanyo, both inside the country and abroad meant to requests generous and immediate support from the international community to help provide water and sanitation, address food shortage, respond to malnutrition amongst children, provide emergency health care and psychological support to women and children in particular and we are very happy the government of the UAE has being the first to respond to our appeal”, he stated.
Ambassador Bashe Awil Omer further added, “Al-Khalifa Foundation is not new to Somaliland and has being active in the country for quite some time, with me today here are Al-Khaliifa Foundation representatives who are presently visiting the country to evaluate the present situation and also to ways of how best to proceed in providing vital assistance ;I would also like on behalf of fellow Somalilanders to thank the government of the UAE for responding to our call in time of dire situation.