The 3.5 metric tons of food comprising of rice, wheat, sugar, cooking oil and dates have been donated to 75 homesteads of Dhaglo Cad Centre IDP camp.
The function took place at Marine Gate in Mogadishu city, Somalia.
The Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission (SRCC) and Head of ATMIS (African Union Transition Mission in Somalia), Ambassador El-Amine Souef, expressed solidarity and gratitude to Somalis fasting in the Holy month of Ramadan.
He said that the month of Ramadan is a month of charity, sacrifice and forgiveness where every Moslem faithful has to share the little he has with another.
“As ATMIS we are in Somalia for peace and security. The issue of humanitarian assistance is left to other organizations whom we only support to ensure that relief reaches beneficiaries. But since it is the Holy month of Ramadan my leadership has organized this little token of appreciation as a sacrifice to you,” Ambassador El-Amine Souef said.
The Sector One Commander, Brig Gen Peter Gaetano Omola as the host of the function, thanked the SRCC for appreciating the Somali community during the month of Ramadan.
He further sent gratitude to the Somali communities for the support rendered to ATMIS.
He remarked that the little token of appreciation was a way of cementing the cordial relationship with the people of Somalia. “Thank you for supporting us since AMISOM days and now ATMIS. Without your support, we would not be where we are. Keep this spirit of togetherness until we achieve total peace in Somalia,” Brig Gen Gaetano Omola said.
The Dhaglo Cad IDP Camp leader, Mr Gabdi Siyaad Xiray together with the women leader Mrs Shamso Aapan, were grateful to ATMIS for the generosity shown towards their families.
They noted that throughout their stay in the camp, there is an urgent need for food, water supply, medicine and shelter as most of them stay in makeshift structures.
They requested ATMIS to intervene to alleviate the suffering of their people.
The function was also attended by the Deputy Force Commander in charge of Operations and Plans, Maj Gen Marius Ngendabanka, ATMIS Police Commissioner Hillary Sao-Kano, Dr Umar Alaso the Special Advisor to SRCC on Human Rights, ATMIS Chief of CIMIC Col Crispine Kaumba Kanjugu, among others, from the Mission headquarters.