Mogadishu - Information Office - 13 November 2019

The Somali government today received a donation from the State of Qatar. It consists of equipment and machinery donated by the Ministry of Municipality and Environment in addition to six boats provided by the Ministry of Interior.

The shipment was delivered to the Somali side by HE Ambassador of the State of Qatar to the Federal Republic of Somalia Hassan bin Hamza Hashem.

A ceremony was held on the occasion of the handover of the Qatari donation, attended by HE Deputy Prime Minister Mahdi Mohamed Guled, Minister of Agriculture, Minister of State for Defense and Police Commander in Somalia as well as Turkey's ambassador to Somalia, a number of officials and officers of the Somali army and police.

In a speech on the occasion, HE the Somali Deputy Prime Minister expressed his thanks and appreciation to HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al -Thani and to the Qatari people, praising the State of Qatar's great efforts to enhance cooperation between the two brotherly countries.

"We are honoured to attend this occasion and celebrate the receipt of boats, tractors and agricultural equipment provided by the sisterly State of Qatar within the framework of its continued support for Somalia," he said, adding that the central government will use these mechanisms to improve the security situation and other aspects that benefit the government and people of Somalia.

His Excellency also touched on the Qatari humanitarian aid that had arrived in Somalia recently and provided by the State of Qatar to those affected by the floods in Beledweyne.

"I appreciate Qatar's continued assistance to the people of Somalia, especially in times of adversity and during calamities," he said.

He added that Qatar was helping Somalia and supports the central government in the various security, economic and developmental aspects, and is one of the first countries to respond to our calls, the latest of which is the initiative on the victims of the bombing of the municipality of Mogadishu on July 22, where it made its effort to save the lives of the injured.

HE the Deputy Prime Minister said that the equipment and mechanisms provided by the State of Qatar would be useful for agriculture and that the boats would enhance the efficiency of the Somali police and would be used for marine purposes.