Postby TheblueNwhite » Thu Aug 11, 2011 4:32 pm
Turkish Development Agency to
open office in Somalia
worldbulletin.com
August 10, 2011
The Turkish team visited the camps and distributed milk, biscuits, chocolate and candies to children.
Turkish International Cooperation and Development Agency (TIKA) will open an office in Somalia.
"Turkey will not only send aid to Somalia but also will continue to contribute to this country to get strengthened in international trade, economy, agriculture and industry," TIKA Chairman Serdar Cam said on Tuesday.
Aid team, led by Cam and Turkish Red Crescent Director General Omer Tasli, are visiting camps in Mogadishu, Somalia after arrival of two cargo planes. Distribution of the assistance started in the region.
The planes brought first part of the assistance collected by TIKA, Turkish Prime Ministry Disaster & Emergency Management Directorate (AFAD), Turkey's Religious Affairs Directorate General, and Turkish Red Crescent (Kizilay) and Sabah newspaper.
The Turkish team visited the camps and distributed milk, biscuits, chocolate and candies to children.
Cam told A.A correspondent that they sad scenes during the works in camps, yet noted that eradication of the camp regions from Shabab organization gave hope.
Cam said the state was gradually establishing its own system, and noted that peace and tranquility should be restored in the region.
He said TIKA's coordination office would be opened there, underlining that, "we will be in an effort to contribute to the state here with various projects."
"Somalia was in a strong situation in the past on agriculture, animal breeding and fishing. However, they need systems to discipline and manage those. I think Turkey's experiences on the related matters can be relayed to them," he added.
Referring to the need of state buildings and education programs for the system to operate well, Cam said, "they demanded an assault boat for coastal security. The demands in question will be conveyed to Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and related authorities."
Cam also said examinations were underway to construct a field hospital there.
Tasci said there was urgent need for foodstuff, underlining that Turkish Red Crescent established a very big logistic center and received a very big depot.
"A ship carrying aid will come from Turkey to the region. The equipment that will be shipped will be distributed to people after being collected in the depots," he said.
Distribution of the assistance is expected to be concluded within a few days.
According to the United Nations, up to 12 million people in the Horn of Africa have been affected by famine. The U.S. Agency for International Development said that more than 29,000 Somali children under the age of 5 have died in the past 90 days while 640,000 Somali children were acutely malnourished. The U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) estimates that more than $1 billion will be necessary to address all the needs. The USA has so far provided almost $460 million to the overall relief effort.
Source: worldbulletin.net