The ambassador of the United Arab Emirates, Mr. Ahmed j. Al-rumeysi, met with the chairman of the Disaster Management Authority, Mr. Mohamud Ma’allin Abdulle, on Thursday to discuss various issues related to aid and support for resilience projects in Somalia.
The meeting, which took place at the SoDMA headquarters in Mogadishu, focused on the urgent needs of the vulnerable people affected by the El-Nino floods, which have displaced thousands of families and damaged crops and infrastructure.
The two leaders agreed that emergency aid should be delivered to the affected areas before the beginning of Ramadan, the holy month of fasting for Muslims. They also agreed that important dams should be repaired to reduce the risk of floods caused by the spring rains, which are expected to start in April.
The ambassador also updated the chairman on the progress of the UAE-funded wells project, which aims to provide clean water to the communities in need. He said that the first phase of the project, which involved drilling 100 wells, has been completed and the second phase, which will drill another 100 wells, is underway.
The chairman expressed his gratitude to the UAE government for its unwavering support with the Somali government and the Somali people. He said that the UAE is a true friend and partner of Somalia, and that the cooperation between the two countries will enhance the resilience and development of Somalia.
The meeting ended with a joint statement, in which the two leaders reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening the bilateral relations and cooperation between the UAE and Somalia, especially in the areas of humanitarian assistance, disaster management, and resilience projects.
