Abu Dhabi, Nov.1,2002 (WAM)
By Banadir.com

A UAE Red Crescent Authority (RCA) plane carrying 40- tonenes of various relief items left here early this morning to Somalia. The delivery of relief assaistance to the Somali people was ordered by President H.H. Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan.

This is the first in a series of other flights that will follow soon. Khalifa Sultan Al Suwaidi, Director-General of RCA , said that Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and Chairman of the RCA, and Sheikh Tahnoun bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman of the President's Private Department, were keenly following the process of the relief operations.

A number of planes will be carrying a total of 212-tonnes of humanitarian materials to the war-torn and drought-stricken East African country. Al Suwaidi said that the huge relief to Somalia, shows the concern of the UAE wise leadership as to the dire conditions of the Somali people, who have been afflicted by diseases and shortages in food and medicines. He reiterated that RCA help to Somalia was part of a comprehensive programme that started in 1993, which aimed at redressing the plight of the people there.

Tomorrow's plane will carry a delegation led by Ahmed Sidiq Al Khaja, Director of the Relief and Al Mutawa Ali Ahmed Al Shehi. WAM/CB-TF