Somalia to fundraise for Turkey's earthquake victims

MOGADISHU, Somalia - The federal government of Somalia has resolved to fundraise for victims of the earthquake that killed thousands of people in Turkey and Syria, including football star Christian Atsu, a Ghanaian player who was found on Saturday morning over a week after the devastating tragedy.

The Relief Committee which was established following the tragedy has resolved to fundraise for the victims, a strategy to reciprocate Turkey's important contributions to the country. Ankara has been a major financial and security partner of Mogadishu for several years.

Senior government officials, business moguls, and other influential community leaders attended the launch on Friday, with a number of scholars and members of civil society also standing in solidarity with Turkey, which is yet to recover from the massive tragedy.

At the launching ceremony, state media reported, Somali Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre said the goal is to raise $5 million in three days and announced that his government contributed $1 million to the quake relief campaign.

Ahmed Fiqi, the country's Interior Minister, said Somalia has an opportunity to return some of the countless support received from “our Turkish brothers and sisters”. "It is a chance to show that Somalia does not forget her friend”.

Ahmed Shirwa, Somalia's Bankers Association chairman, the business community donated $3 million to the victims of the tragedy. This means from Somalia alone so far, the government and partners have given $4 million to the people of Turkiye who are yet to recover from the shock.

Records show over 45,000 people have so far died but Turkey believes more survivors will be retrieved from the rubble.

More than 38,000 have so far died in twin quakes in southern Türkiye, but hope endures as more survivors emerge from the rubble.

The Feb. 6 magnitude 7.7 and 7.6 earthquakes, centered in the Kahramanmaras province, affected more than 13 million people across 11 provinces, including Adana, Adiyaman, Diyarbakir, Gaziantep, Hatay, Kilis, Malatya, Osmaniye, Sanliurfa, and Elazig, Reuters reported.

GAROWE ONLINE