150K Aster food parcels for displaced Somalis
dubai — Aster Volunteers joined hands with Al Hayat Foundation humanitarian workers in Somalia to support the ongoing relief efforts and aid in the safe distribution of over 150,000 meal packets to the famine affected and displaced Somalis at Buraco in Somaliland. The initiative is part of the ‘Aster Volunteer’ global programme for Africa for the disaster support as part of “Aster@30” initiatives commemorating Aster DM Healthcare’s 30th anniversary year.
Aster partnered with the Government of Dubai’s Awqaf and Minors Affairs Foundation (AMAF) earlier this year to provide humanitarian aid and support the relief efforts in famineaffected areas of Somalia.
The foods packed through the Salma Humanitarian Relief Programme, is an initiative pioneered by the Dubai Islamic Economy Development Centre and managed by the AMAF, ensured safe delivery and efficient distribution of the food packets. The distribution was supported by six Aster volunteers, who travelled to Somalia. The ground handling was organised by Al Hayat Islamic Foundation — an NGO in Somalia that Aster has partnered with the AMAF and its associate Dubai Charity Association.
“We are very pleased to receive such great support and commitment from our partners and friends in Dubai,” said Abdul Hakeem Saed Bare, chairman of Al Hayat Islamic Foundation.
Dr Azad Moopen, founder chairman and managing director of Aster DM Healthcare, said that around three million people, an estimated one quarter of Somalia’s population, are experiencing “acute food shortages at crisis or emergency levels as of June 2017”.
“The people of Somalia have long struggled with both violence and scarcity, and it is our honour and duty to assist them,” he said.
Tayeb Al Rais, secretary-general of AMAF, said: “The provision of food is vital to reducing the number of deaths. We thank Aster DM Healthcare for its valuable generosity and efforts to support humanitarian aid and help people overcome extreme natural disasters. This public-private sector partnership reflects a shared commitment to giving for the benefit of humanity, which in turn serves the dream and vision of the rulers of our land.”
The journey
About Dh1.5 million worth of food packets were dispatched in two 20 ft shipping containers and arrived in Buraco where they were safely taken to various stocking and distributions sites.
The value of the containers was raised internally through the contribution of Aster’s employees, with equal contribution from the Aster DM Foundation — the charitable arm of Aster DM Healthcare.
The distribution arrangements started early in the morning on August 26 and continued throughout the day with the channelised ration benefitting around 3,500 families.
The volunteers later met Abdirahman Abdilaahi Ismail, VicePresident of the Republic of Somaliland, and Suleiman Essa Ahmed, Health Minister of the Republic of Somaliland.
The aid to Somalia’s victims of famine is part of an ongoing effort on the part of Aster to alleviate the suffering of those in unfortunate conditions across the Middle East, Africa and Asia.
reporters@khaleejtimes.com