Amid Coronavirus pandemic, UAE donates medical equipment to Somalia

MOGADISHU, Somalia - A cargo plane with medical supplies landed in Aden Adde International Airport on Monday, reports indicate, with United Arab Emirates joining the list of countries helping Somalia to manage COVID-19 cases.

Officials from the ministry of health and social services received the consignment, which would boost the almost dysfunctional healthcare system in Somalia, a country that is still embroiled in inter-clan conflicts and Al-Shabaab menace.

Key among the donations from Emiratis were 7 tonnes of medicines and test kits. Also in the plane were similar donations of 20 tonnes from the World Health Organization [WHO].

The donation comes a few weeks after the UAE donated medical equipment to breakaway Somaliland and the semi-autonomous Puntland state towards the fight for the coronavirus pandemic.

The Gulf nation has been lobbying towards normalization of the bilateral relationship with Somalia, which was severely affected in 2018 when authorities in Somalia seized a plane with $10 million cash.

It was widely believed that the money was geared towards supporting terrorists and warlords to the disadvantage of the feeble federal government, which largely depends on the security from the AU forces.

But in a rejoinder, the UAE insisted that the money was meant for salaries for Somali National Army [SNA], which it had been training then. Since then, the Emiratis had suspended most of aid programs in Somalia.

The latest donation will enhance existing medical facilities, some of which are struggling with the increasing number of Coronavirus victims in Somalia, which now stands at 62 as of Tuesday.

On Monday, the health department announced 35 new infections, most of which were sampled in Mogadishu. Three of the victims were from Somaliland, officials said.

Martini Hospital in Mogadishu is currently being used as the main isolation center. Already, two people including a regional minister have since died. One person has recovered, reports from the ministry indicated.

To curb the spread, authorities in Somalia imposed a dusk-to-dawn curfew on Sunday in Mogadishu, which is the worst affected by the tragedy. Puntland had initiated a similar move two weeks ago.

Also, schools remain closed with all domestic and international flights also suspended indefinitely. Police have also banned mass gatherings and meetings across the country as some of the basic measures to combat the virus.

The UAE donation comes barely a week after Chinese billionaire philanthropist Jack Ma also made donations. Among others, Ma donated ventilators, face masks, gloves and essential aprons for medics.

International partners led by the United Nations also insisted that "we shall stand with Somalia during this difficult time". The team lauded the country for the implementation of the basic measures.

As of Monday, the total infections had reached 1.8 million people worldwide. Close to 103,000 have since died while 450,000 have recovered. The US, Italy, Spain, Britain, and China the worst hit with deaths.

GAROWE ONLINE