Bahrain Royal Charity Organisation has signed a deal to build a $1.5 million teachers institute in Somalia, in co-operation with Islamic Relief Worldwide (IRWW).

The agreement for the Bahrain Teachers Institute was signed yesterday following directives from His Majesty King Hamadin the presence of RCO board of trustees chairman Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa.

Somali Education, Culture and Higher Education Minister Ahmed Edid Ibrahim, IRWW chairman Dr Mohammed Al Alfy and RCO secretary-general Dr Mustafa Al Sayad signed the pact.

Shaikh Nasser thanked His Majesty, the RCO honorary president, for his innumerable humanitarian initiatives and constant keenness to provide aid for needy people worldwide.

He said the RCO, backed by the wise leadership, the government and the Bahraini people, will continue its humanitarian work in Somalia to alleviate the sufferings of Somali citizens and contribute to efforts to rebuild the country.

Shaikh Nasser said the institute is Bahrain's second development project in Somalia in less than three months, citing the laying of the foundation stone for the Bahrain Specialist Hospital in Mogadishu last November, the kingdom's commitment to restore eyesight to 1,000 Somali citizens, the digging of 10 wells across the country and the 200 tonnes of emergency relief aid delivered.

Dr Al Sayad renewed Bahrain's support for Somalia to alleviate the sufferings of drought and famine victims, lauding the on-going co-operation with the IRWW in carrying out development and relief projects in many countries.

He also pledged that RCO, under the leadership of Shaikh Nasser, will continue its efforts and initiatives aiming to help the Somali people.

The Somali Education Minister thanked the kingdom's leadership and people for their support reflecting solid fraternal ties bonding Bahrain and Somalia, asserting that Bahrain has always been at the fore of countries that provide relief for people all over the world.

Dr Al Alfy also praised the humanitarian initiatives of the kingdom's leadership and people, stressing that the kingdom not only provides emergency aid but also sets up development projects that benefit those countries for generations, which, he said, is a commendable feature.

Bahrain's Ambassador to the UK Alice Sama'an and officials from the UK-based IRWW also attended.-TradeArabia News Service