EU sends aid to Somalia to support coronavirus response

BRUSSELS, July 5 (KUNA) -- The European Union Sunday announced that a humanitarian air bridge flight arrived in Mogadishu on Sunday from Brindisi, Italy, carrying humanitarian and medical supplies .
Two other flights to Somalia will take off from Brindisi in the coming days, with additional material on board, bringing the total of cargo to 42 tonnes, said an European Commission press release.
Janez Lenarcic, EU Commissioner for Crisis Management, commented that this EU Humanitarian Air Bridge operation will support the coronavirus response in Somalia with personal protective equipment and medical material. "In addition, the flights are helping humanitarian organisations transport supplies needed to reinforce their projects in the recently flood-hit areas in Somalia," he added.
The EU Humanitarian Air Bridge flights to Somalia have been put in place thanks to a cooperation between the European Commission and Italy.
The EU Humanitarian Air Bridge operations form part of the EU's global response to the coronavirus pandemic, bringing together the EU and its Member States. The total EU support to Somalia in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic amounts to around 55 million euro (USD 62 million). (end) nk.rk