Sunday September 25, 2022
Mogadishu (HOL) - Two military planes carrying medical staff and aid relief for drought-affected people arrived in Mogadishu on Sunday.
Somalia’s state-owned media reported that the medical staff would airlift members of the Somali National Army wounded in the ongoing military offensive operations against al Shabaab to Egypt for medical treatment.
President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi, the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, directed humanitarian aid to be sent to Somalia.
Government forces backed by anti-al Shabab local militia have been conducting operations against al Shabab in Hiiraan, Galgadud and Bay regions to flush out the militant group of al Shabab.
Over a hundred militants were killed in the operations in Hiiraan and Galgadud for the last two months, as the joint forces also suffered casualties. Still, the military officials did specify the losses on their side.
Earlier this month, the UN humanitarian chief warned that parts of Somalia are on the brink of famine after being hit by four failed rainy seasons that have caused a devastating drought.
Last year, former Somali Foreign Minister Mohamed Abdirizak Mohamed revealed that Somalia rejected a shipment of medical relief from Egypt due to Villa Somalia’s relationship with Ethiopia.
In an interview with BS TV, the former minister said Villa Somalia had asked Egypt to reject its C-130 flight to Somalia carrying medical aid from the Arab League.
However, the leadership of the former government of President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo did not comment on it.