Somalia on Sunday received donation of humanitarian and medical supplies from Italy, the European Union and other partners to help the country tackle health and natural crises.
The EU Humanitarian Air Bridge flight arrived in Mogadishu from Brindisi, Italy, with supplies from the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Italian civil society organisations and international NGOs.
“This EU Humanitarian Air Bridge operation will support the coronavirus response in Somalia with personal protective equipment and medical material. In addition, the flights are helping humanitarian organisations transport supplies needed to reinforce their projects in the recently flood-hit areas in Somalia. Given the urgency of the needs, the EU accorded utmost importance that these flights are operated at the earliest possibility,” said Janez Lenarčič, Commissioner for Crisis Management.
Emanuela C. Del Re, Italian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, said the flight was a show of friendship with Somalia, which would benefit the Horn of African nation.
The EU Humanitarian Air Bridge operations form part of the EU’s global response to the coronavirus pandemic within the ‘Team Europe’ approach, bringing together the EU and its Member States.
The total support to Somalia in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic amounts to around €55 million. The funding helps to strengthen the health system, support the economy in these challenging times, train health staff and reinforce social support systems.
Somalia has reported 2,961 COVID-19 infections and 92 deaths, according to the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention.
A #EuropeanUnion humanitarian flight landed in #Mogadishu today to support the #coronavirus response in #Somalia. Today's operation is part of the global #TeamEurope #COVIDpandemic response. Welcoming the flight was @NBerlangaEU, @MinisterMOFA and Min. @AbikarDr among others. pic.twitter.com/bXHrJbTZ3R
— EU Del in Somalia (@EU_in_Somalia) July 5, 2020
