Mogadishu – Somalia welcomed a significant shipment of flood relief aid from Russia on Thursday, totaling 25,000 tons. The aid, delivered to Mogadishu, was officially handed over to the Somali Disaster Management Agency (SoDMA) in a ceremony attended by key Somali officials. Present were Ahmed Fiqi, the Minister of Internal Affairs, Abdullahi Abdullahi Ahmed Jama Ilkajir, the Minister of Ports, and Osman Daallo, the Minister of State for Trade, along with representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and SoDMA. The Russian Ambassador to Somalia and Djibouti, Mikhail Golovanov, represented Russia at the event.
According to Somali National News Agency, this shipment marks Russia’s initial installment of promised aid to Africa, aimed at providing relief to communities ravaged by the recent devastating floods in Somalia. These floods have led to widespread displacement, destruction of homes and infrastructure, and significant disruption to livelihoods.
The Somali government has expressed its deep appreciation for Russia’s support in these challenging times. In addition to this shipment, Russia has committed to further humanitarian assistance to aid Somalia’s recovery efforts.
As Somalia grapples with the aftermath of the floods, the Russian aid comes as a significant contribution towards relief efforts, aiming to reduce the hardships faced by the affected communities.