United Arab Emirates (UAE) Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Red Crescent Authority (RCA) Sheikh Hamdan Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan has given orders to dispatch urgent food relief aid to Somali areas hit by drought and famine, said the RCA today. "The humanitarian relief aid which is aimed to support Somali people in times of crisis is a personal grant from Sheikh Hamdan Bin Zayed, " according to RCA Secretary General Dr. Saleh Musa Al-Tae'e, who did not say how much is the grant. Dr. Al-Tae'e added that a delegation from RCA will soon fly to Somalia to oversee the distribution of relief aid to eligible families as well as to inspect progress on drilling drinkable water wells in dry areas. The initiative comes at a crucial time to express UAE's solidarity and humanitarian sympathy with underprivileged Somalis ahead of the Holy Month of Ramadan, head of Relief and Emergencies at RCA Saleh Salim Al-Jaberi was quoted as saying by the UAE news agency "WAM". The UAE's humanitarian organization has maintained a strong humanitarian presence in Somalia since 1994.
