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United Arab Emirates Red Crescent Donates Food to Somaliland

March 3, 2011 · 2055110 Comments2011-03-04+00%3A39%3A26SomalilandPress

BERBERA — United Arab Emirates’ Red Crescent began distributing much-needed load of food aid in the port city of Berbera on Thursday.

The donation will reach all parts of the country that is currently facing a sever famine due to lack of rains in the past three years.

The first recipients will be an estimated 300 poor families in Berbera and they will receive rice, sugar, sunflower oil and flour.

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Thursday’s delivery was taken to the outskirt of Berbera’s old cement factory located few miles outside of the city and only a handful of families were able to walk the distance. It is still unclear why the location outside the city was chosen for the food distribution knowing the distance that families will have to walk and carry the food supplies back.

While briefing the media, the minister of water and resource Hussein Abdi Duale says his recent visit to the UAE made the relief package possible. He added the UAE organization pledged 900 ton of food aid which consist of sugar, sunflower oil, rice and flour.

“This humanitarian relief comes after my visit to UAE which gave me an opportunity to directly appeal to UAE government to help us with the ongoing drought,” he said.

Most of the emergency food is expected to reach the rest of the country by this weekend.

The minister thanked the UAE government and people for their generosity. He said the UAE is one of the leading countries that assist Somaliland with monetary and humanitarian efforts.

The UAE recently also dispatched a team of expert and equipment to survey water resources in the country. The team plans to construct a number of wells and modern water facilities throughout Somaliland.

UAE teams are as well funding a number of projects in the country including providing $10million to renovate Hargeisa and Berbera’s airports.

On Friday a convey of three trucks visited the Awdal region and began distributing the aid.

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Somalilandpress | 3 March 2011

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By SomalilandPress

Tags: Minister Hussein Abdi Duale, Somaliland Drought, UAE Red Crescent

mohamed says:

The UAE Red Crescent food distributions to the needy families in Berbera and other Somaliland
Regional districts gratefully appreciated. However like Kuwait the UAE could show more interest
in investing developmental projects in Somaliland in almost any field..the sky is the limit.
Cheers.

8:06 pm on March 3, 2011

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Kayse says:

UAE your help is appreciated even though this assistance is from Abu Dhabi rather than UAE. Dubai spends billions on useless things such as baths for horses and camels while millions of Muslims around the world live without food, water or medications. It's rather a shame and the boom of Dubai will not last because its material world. I understand they use to be dirt poor and they are excited with all the new wealth but they need to think outside their little world.

It amazes me when I see Arabs in Dubai spend billions on useless toys while millions die of hunger. I would not be comfortable spending while Muslims starve. Its just haram. The oil was given to them to act rightfully not freaking try to build the BIGGEST of every thing. Useless toys!

1:28 am on March 4, 2011

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Ahmed Omar says:

First of all, we have to thank Emirates government for the help is providing to our people. They deserve all the praise. However, I would like to point out to our brothers that they should think of investing in Somaliland. This is a win-win, they will benefit and we will benefit at the same time. This is the kind of help we need.

6:13 am on March 4, 2011

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middlepath says:

Good news!

But can the guys in Somalilandpress remove these annoying ads?

9:14 am on March 4, 2011

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Boqoljireh says:

Dubai was like us, poor, but Allah, the almighty has given them this wealth. They should use rightly and help the Muslim brother and sister all over the world. We have been the first to encounter each other and we [Somaliland] use to help them during bad days. Let them remember how we use to help them when they came to Berbera to sell their dates. We use to load their boat with meat and other essential things they need back home. It seems they have forgotten or the old generation who knew our help have since gone. I advise them to go back to the history and remember what we use to do for them. Someone once told me that when they [travellers] come back from Berbera, the people on deck use to smell the 'SALALKA' grilled meat from Somaliland from distance and they use to mouth water and celebrate. They have forgotten all this, and now sending our people a few sack of sorgum and oil. We deserve more brothers.

10:21 am on March 4, 2011

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- Jale says:
  
  UAE discovered its oil while searching for water in the desert so they understand what our people are facing now. They have not forgotten where they came from.
  
  3:04 pm on March 4, 2011
  
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Boqoljireh says:

Correction: SOLAYGA and not SALOLKA. They use to smell from distance [kilometers].

1:28 pm on March 4, 2011

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Jale says:

Somaliland community is influential and well-respected in Abu Dhabi. We were there since the emirate was few tents and a desert. We played a crucial role in the establishment of strong UAE.

We thank the UAE community and the Sheikh for his generosities. UAE is a friend that Somaliland can always lean on same as Kuwait.

3:03 pm on March 4, 2011

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Dave/California/USA says:

Desalination of your ocean will allow families to grow their own food. Studies show you also have gas and oil. Thus great wealth as a nation could be yours. From my reading, it appears that your leaders care about familes and you have great national potential. Join together in peace and your dreams will arrive! We hope and pray that Somaliland will join the family of many nations that wish you well.

1:49 am on March 13, 2011

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- Kayse says:
  
  You are right but desalination of salt water is going to need huge energy resources. I am afraid the cheapest means right now are well water and our population is out growing supplies. We are considering desalinating the water near Berbera but this is only plans by some intellectuals.
  
  Roughly its also going to need 250km long pipelines, this along is enough to blow up Somaliland's little budget however if it was recognized it could obtain foreign assistance and tap into number of resources.
  
  I personally believe building a water pipeline from Ethiopia's Blue Nile delta or South Sudan would be a lot cheaper.
  
  3:08 am on March 13, 2011
  
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