By: Yusuf M Hasan
Somalilandsun- The government and People of Somaliland are grateful to their counterparts in the United Arab Emirates-UAE for continued Humanitarian and Development support.
This is per a statement from within the Somaliland diplomatic office in Dubai from where a staffer revealed that the UAE has dispatched a ship laden with drought relief supplies contribution.
This donation which expected to dock anytime now at the Port of Berbera shall be handed over to the national drought relief committee for disposal to the numerous areas affected by severe drought in the country.
According to the diplomatic source the assorted drought relief contribution from the UAE is in response to a recent appeal made by Somaliland president Ahmed Mahmud Silanyo.
In his appeal president Silanyo asked friendly governments and International humanitarian organizations to support relief efforts occasioned by prolonged and recurrent droughts in which over half a million people have been affected while their mainstay of livestock has almost been decimated.
The relief goods laden ship comes in the heels of a recent UAE fund donation towards construction and equipping of 20 boreholes targeting clean and sufficient water supply within areas most engulfed by drought in the country.
Assessment of the 20 boreholes was undertaken and completed by a team of Emirati engineers accompanied by Somaliland envoy to the UAE ambassador Bashe Awil Omar, said to be also behind the large contribution of relief supplies current at sea.
Somaliland and other regions of the Horn of Africa are suffering from one of the driest years in memory, resulting in Severe shortages of food and water, along with deaths of livestock, thus plunging many families into destitution.
Though the UAE and Somaliland governments and People have enjoyed lengthily cooperation, relations have been enhanced dramatically since the appointment of Bashe Awil as Dubai based envoy.
A case in point is the contract worth over $400m awarded to Emirati firm DP World to manage and develop the main Somaliland port of Berbera.
In the terms of the contract DP World is mandated with personnel skills enhancement and erection of structures as well as establishment of other relevant mechanisms geared towards making Berbera attain international acceptable standards. 
This agreement is very important for the Somaliland sovereignty as it opens doors for other foreign governments and global forms to enter investment contracts with the yet to receive international recognition government in Hargeisa.
