Thursday February 16, 2023
Mogadishu (HOL) - The Somali Prime Minister, Hamse Abdi Barre, has formed an 11-member national committee to coordinate support for victims of the Turkish earthquake. The committee aims to demonstrate solidarity between the Somali government and its people with the Turkish people. The Somali Prime Minister has emphasized that international support for Turkey, which was hit by a massive disaster, will not abandon the Somali people.
The appointed committee members include: the Minister of Justice and the Constitution, Hassan Moalim Mohamud, the Minister of Interior, Federal and Reconciliation, Ahmed Macallin Fiqi, the Minister of Education, Farah Sheikh Abdulqadir, Sheikh Bashir Ahmed Salad, Sheikh Abdulkadir Somow, Sultan Abdiqani Qorane, Omar Hassan Mohamed, Ahmed Mohamud Yusuf, Ahmed Shirwac Mohamed, Dunya Mohamed Ali, and Prof. Hussain Iiman.
The devastating earthquakes that occurred in northwestern Syria and Turkey on Feb. 6 have claimed the lives of more than 37,000 people, with tens of thousands of people injured. After the earthquakes, dozens of countries and organizations offered to assist rescue efforts in southeastern Turkey and northwestern Syria.
Somalia and Turkey have a longstanding partnership, bilateral relations, and engage in close development cooperation. Somalia has an embassy in Ankara, and Turkey maintains an embassy in Mogadishu.
On Thursday, Djibouti donated $1 million in cash and a second batch of relief goods to Turkey to aid those affected by the recent twin earthquakes. The Djibouti ambassador to Ankara made the cash donation to the Turkish Disaster and Emergency Management (AFAD). The relief goods include generators, projectors, blankets, pullovers, and thermal garments donated by Djibouti companies.