Bahrain's third aid shipment to drought and famine-hit Somalia, worth $300,000, will be despatched today (October 10).

It is part of a $2 million consignment, consisting of medical equipment, medicine, food, plastic mats, water containers and tents donated to the country.

The initiatives followed instructions from Royal Charity Organisation (RCO) board chairman Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, after His Majesty King Hamad issued directives to extend a lifeline to Somalis.

An RCO delegation, led by secretary-general Dr Mustafa Al Sayed, visited the Somali capital Mogadishu last month. He conveyed Bahrain's condolences to famine victims.

The first consignment of 40 tonnes of food and medicines was despatched last month and the second last Friday, said Dr Al Sayed.

Dr Al Sayed signed an agreement on the sidelines of a visit to deliver aid consignments to the country.

A second deal to dig 10 wells at a cost of $1.2 million in co-operation with charity organisation Islamic Relief was also finalised.

Bahrain is planning to dig a series of wells across drought-ravaged Somalia as part of the deal.

"The third consignment, comprising medical aid, equipment, medicines and rescue items including tents, plastic mats and water containers, will be despatched today," said Dr Al Sayed, who delivered the first consignment of medicines and food items to Somalia.

"To ensure safe arrival, RCO administration manager Mohammed Al Awadhi, personal supervisor Adel Kooheji and Bahrain Red Crescent Society representative Adel Al Jar will travel with the shipment.”

"The consignment despatched last Friday was taken care of by RCO assistant secretary-general Saeed Abdulrahman and public relations manager Adel Mahmeed," said Dr Al Sayed.

"This humanitarian programme, which is a mixture of emergency aid and development programmes, is based on the initiative of His Majesty and spearheaded by Shaikh Nasser.

"These consignments will be followed by another 10 flights to be despatched, following the royal announcement of a series of flights to deliver the aid."

Hospital

Dr Al Sayed said the RCO was also planning to build a hospital costing BD1.5 million ($3.98 million) in Mogadishu. "We have signed a contract to build a hospital named Bahrain Specialist Hospital and a nursing school," he said.

"After the aid, we will start transferring goods to help with the development process which will begin very soon."

Bahrain residents earlier donated BD1 million to help Somalians.

The funds were raised through the BH4Somalia campaign spearheaded by the Information Affairs Authority (IAA), which attracted 17,445 donors.

Walk-in donations were also received at the Bahrain City Centre, Seef Mall and IAA headquarters in Isa Town.

In addition, charity organisations set up stalls inside mosques to raise funds. – TradeArabia News Service