Sudan: Nation Announces 'Substantial' Aid Package to Somalia

1 August 2011

Khartoum — The Sudanese president Omer Hassan al-Bashir told his Somali counterpart Sharif Sheikh Ahmed that his government will provide substantial aid to the drought-stricken country where many parts have been declared as famine areas by the United Nations.

Ahmed, who arrived in Khartoum on Monday, told Sudan news agency (SUNA) that his talks with Bashir on the situation in Somalia focused on the drought and the kind of support Khartoum can provide.

He said that Bashir expressed readiness to aid Somalia and told him that one is currently in the works.

The Somali president told SUNA that while Arab and African support is "good" it is yet to be coordinated adding that this an item he discussed with Bashir.

The United Nations declared a famine in two regions of southern Somalia - where 3.7 million people are going hungry - on July 20. There is always a steady trickle of Somalis coming into northern Kenya, mostly fleeing violence, but in recent months they have also been looking for food.

Sudan ranked 21 on the list released by United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) of the top 30 nations giving money for victims of the drought and famine in the Horn of Africa.

With $1,788,000 in donations, Sudan was ahead of more richer countries such as Saudi Arabia, Russia and Luxembourg.

The African Union (AU) is scheduled to hold a funding conference with the assistance of the United Nations soon later this month to help raise money.

Source: allAfrica.
Link: http://allafrica.com/stories/201108021488.html.