The Somali capital Mogadishu on 2 May 2012 celebrated the launching of wells sunk by the Saudi National campaign for the Relief of the Somali People, sponsored by His Royal Highness Prince Nayef Ibn Abdulaziz, Crown Prince, Minister of Interior and the Overseer of the Saudi National Campaign for the Relief of the Somali People. The Saudi humanitarian project for the relief of the Somali people is the outcome of the directives of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Ibn Abdulaziz.
The Assistant Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs and International Cooperation, Ambassador Atta El Manane Bakhiet, stated that the huge humanitarian assistance provided by the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia through the National Campaign for the Relief of the Somali People is part of the Kingdom’s service to the causes of the Islamic Ummah and particularly for the relief of the affected people of Somalia.
The celebration was held in the presence of the Somali Deputy Prime Minister and the Ministers of Water, Information, Finance and Works and several ambassadors, notables and leaders of organisations amid heavy international and local media presence.
The Director of the OIC Office in Mogadishu welcomed the Deputy Prime Minister, ambassadors, the representatives of the General Secretariat and Al Raya Company, and guests, and commended the assistances provided by the Saudi National Campaign. He also underlined the constant coordination existing between the Campaign and the OIC on humanitarian activities.
For his part the Secretary General of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation Professor Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu lauded the Saudi National Campaign and thanked the Government of Somalia for its cooperation towards the completion of the project patronized by the HRH Prince Nayef Ibn Abdulaziz.
The Deputy Prime Minster and Minster of Trade of Somalia in his speech stressed the importance of the strategic water project and thanked the King, Government and people of Saudi Arabia for their gifts to the Somali people in various fields. He also expressed appreciation for the initiative of Prince Nayef Ibn Abdulaziz for his supervision and support for the Saudi National Campaign which gave and continues to give so much to Somalia.
The Minister of Water and Mining also spoke at the meeting, extolling the efforts of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and emphasizing his Ministry’s cooperation with the OIC and the Saudi Campaign. He pledged to extend all necessary facilities to ensure the success of the project. The Dean of the Diplomatic Corps and Ambassador of the Republic of Yemen praised the humanitarian role of the Kingdom which extends to the entire Muslim world.
Yesterday’s morning witnessed the beginning of the take-off of activities at two locations in the capital Mogadishu as part of the Saudi National Campaign project to sink 150 artesian wells with all their accessories in south and central Somalia at a total cost of about US$ 15 million.
It should be mentioned that the Saudi National Campaign for the Relief of the Somali People had donated food and medicine assistance of more than 10,000 tones under the supervision of the OIC Office in Somalia.