Russia provides 25,000 tons of grain to Somalia as humanitarian aid
2nd batch of humanitarian grain aid is expected to arrive in Somalia later this year, says Russian ambassador
Somalia received 25,000 tons of grain as humanitarian aid from Russia, which arrived in a cargo ship at Mogadishu’s sea port on Thursday.
The shipment was handed over to the Somali Disaster Management Agency (SoDMA) at a ceremony attended by Somali Interior Minister Ahmed Moalim Fiqi and Russian Ambassador to Somalia and Djibouti Mikhail Golovanov at the Port of Mogadishu.
The humanitarian assistance is part of an agreement announced by Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Russia-Africa summit in St. Petersburg in July to provide food assistance to African nations.
During the ceremony, Russian Ambassador Golovanov expressed concern about the food situation in Somalia as a result of heavy rains and flooding.
“We are seriously concerned about the deterioration of the humanitarian situation in Somalia triggered by the heavy rains and floods across the country,” the ambassador said, adding, “I am much honored to be present with you in Mogadishu for the handover ceremony of Russian humanitarian aid to the federal government of Somalia.”
He said the second batch of Russian humanitarian grain aid is expected to arrive in Somalia later this year.
Interior Minister Fiqi, flanked by several senior Somali government officials, thanked the Russian government for the humanitarian assistance, saying “The aid comes at a time when Somalia is in huge need of humanitarian assistance.”
