“Judging from the field visits that we have made so far, the situation is still desperate. There is a dire need for more medical supplies. Almost all Somali officials we have met have expressed deep gratitude to the UAE for its urgent medical supplies, which have undoubtedly saved lives of tens of victims,” said Dr Musa Al Taei, head of the UAE Red Crescent Society (RCS) team currently in Mogadishu. The UAE sent two planeloads of medicines to Somalia a couple of days ago to rescue lives of thousands of displaced people who are endangered by the outbreak of cholera contracted from contaminated water. The RCS airlifted a total of 80 tonnes of medical supplies, but the situation is said to be desperate as poorly-equipped hospitals continue to receive 400 cases of diarrhoea daily. “This situation requires urgent and positive response from philanthropists and humanitarian agencies,” said Al Taei. Source: Khaleej Times, Mar 11, 2007