Dubai Cares to start work in Somalia

Dubai Cares is in discussion with international agencies to find out ways to help the drought affected Somali children to nourish and educate.

The charity, which mainly focuses on community development activities in poor regions across the world, is seeking to groom children rather than just providing them with aid.

Somalia is struggling to cope with severe drought as about 2.8 million people are facing starvation in the Horn of Africa.

Authorities believe that at least 800,000 children in Somalia face the risk of dying without food or water.

UAE has already rushed in its first round of aid material including food and medicine to the beleaguered population.

The food aid, consisting of rice and edible oil, is being distributed among families in portions that would last each family for a month.

UAE’s mobile clinic has already started providing medical and health services to patients in the Hamar Jab Jab Camp.

The distribution of aid is being supervised by representatives from the UAE Red Crescent Authority and Khalifa Bin Zayed Humanitarian Foundation through coordination and cooperation with the Somali Red Crescent Authority.

“We need more and more people to come forward and help the needful in times of desperation,” said Tariq Al Gurg, Chief Executive Officer.

Dubai Cares.

When asked if Dubai Cares plans any immediate relief activity in Somalia he said, “We Are not into emergency relief activity. We usually get involved in phase two, and into the education and well being of children. We are already in discussion with the international agencies to explore ways of assisting children in the country,” said Al Gurg.

Meanwhile, the Arab League, which called an urgent meeting for its permanent delegates to discuss aid for Somalia has called upon both public and private sector to contribute to the relief efforts. The council also called for holding of an urgent international conference to chalk out work plan to tackle the famine.

Somalia has also been affected by insurgency with the Al Shabab group that has been fighting to topple the Western-backed government. The militants who have been accused of blocking aid and relief efforts have now pulled most of its forces out of the Somali capital.