ANKARA: Somalia’s president is to visit close ally Turkiye on Tuesday following Israel’s recognition of the breakaway territory of Somaliland, Turkiye’s presidency said.
Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud will hold talks “on the current situation in Somalia in the fight against terrorism, measures taken by the federal Somali government toward national unity and regional developments,” Burhanettin Duran, head of the Turkish presidency’s communications directorate, said on X.
Turkiye on Friday denounced Israel’s recognition of Somaliland, a self-proclaimed republic, calling it “overt interference in Somalia’s domestic affairs.”
Ankara, a close ally of Somalia, provides military and economic assistance to the country that has been devastated by civil war since the early 1990s.
Turkiye is helping to rebuild its army and infrastructure while ensuring its presence in east Africa, including at sea.
Somaliland declared independence in 1991, as Somalia was plunged into chaos following the fall of dictator Siad Barre.
The region has operated autonomously since then and possesses its own currency, army and police force.
It has generally experienced greater stability than Somalia, where Al-Shabab militants periodically mount attacks in the capital Mogadishu.
Diplomatic isolation has been the norm — until Israel’s move to recognize it as a sovereign nation, which has been criticized by the African Union, Egypt, the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council and the Saudi-based Organization of Islamic Cooperation.
The European Union has insisted Somalia’s sovereignty should be respected.
The recognition is the latest move by Israel that has angered Turkiye, with relations souring between the two countries in recent years.
Ankara has strongly condemned Israel’s offensive in the Gaza Strip, and Israel has opposed Turkiye’s participation in a future stabilization force in the Palestinian territory.
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Somali president to visit Turkiye after Israeli recognition of Somaliland
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Somali president to visit Turkiye after Israeli recognition of Somaliland
- Ankara, a close ally of Somalia, provides military and economic assistance to the country that has been devastated by civil war since the early 1990s
- Somaliland declared independence in 1991, as Somalia was plunged into chaos following the fall of dictator Siad Barre
Red Cross launches Iran emergency appeal as needs soar
- Appeal for $51.5 million to help support five million people through the next 16 months
- Emergency appeal funds will go toward shelter support, providing relief items, health services and maintaining water and sanitation services
GENEVA: Humanitarian needs in Iran are growing sharply due to the war, the Red Cross said Tuesday as it launched an emergency appeal for more than $50 million.
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies said its appeal for 40 million Swiss francs ($51.5 million) would help support five million people through the next 16 months.
“Across the country, communities are facing growing humanitarian needs related to health care, shelter, water and sanitation, and mental health and psychosocial support,” the IFRC said.
The funds will help the national Iranian Red Crescent Society (IRCS) to prioritize those directly affected by the war, and deal with infrastructure damage and disruptions to essential services.
“With humanitarian needs growing sharply with every passing day, this emergency appeal will help scale up lifesaving assistance and get support to those most affected,” Maria Martinez, the IFRC’s delegation chief in Iran, said in a statement.
The United States and Israel launched their first wave of attacks on Iran on February 28, triggering a war that has seen Iran strike targets in multiple countries around the Gulf.
“The Iranian Red Crescent Society immediately mobilized its network of staff and volunteers to respond to communities affected by the hostilities,” said Martinez.
“This work on the ground by the IRCS and the IFRC is vital to saving lives — every moment counts.”
The IFRC said that 529 IRCS branches were undertaking emergency response operations across 30 provinces and 197 cities.
More than 2,100 response teams and over 6,500 staff and volunteers have been deployed, it said, while emergency teams have been carrying out search and rescue operations.
The emergency appeal funds will go toward shelter support, providing relief items, health services and maintaining water and sanitation services.
The Geneva-based IFRC has already allocated 1.5 million Swiss francs from its Disaster Response Emergency Fund to support immediate life-saving activities in Iran.
The IFRC, which has more than 17 million volunteers in more than 191 countries, is the world’s largest humanitarian network.
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies said its appeal for 40 million Swiss francs ($51.5 million) would help support five million people through the next 16 months.
“Across the country, communities are facing growing humanitarian needs related to health care, shelter, water and sanitation, and mental health and psychosocial support,” the IFRC said.
The funds will help the national Iranian Red Crescent Society (IRCS) to prioritize those directly affected by the war, and deal with infrastructure damage and disruptions to essential services.
“With humanitarian needs growing sharply with every passing day, this emergency appeal will help scale up lifesaving assistance and get support to those most affected,” Maria Martinez, the IFRC’s delegation chief in Iran, said in a statement.
The United States and Israel launched their first wave of attacks on Iran on February 28, triggering a war that has seen Iran strike targets in multiple countries around the Gulf.
“The Iranian Red Crescent Society immediately mobilized its network of staff and volunteers to respond to communities affected by the hostilities,” said Martinez.
“This work on the ground by the IRCS and the IFRC is vital to saving lives — every moment counts.”
The IFRC said that 529 IRCS branches were undertaking emergency response operations across 30 provinces and 197 cities.
More than 2,100 response teams and over 6,500 staff and volunteers have been deployed, it said, while emergency teams have been carrying out search and rescue operations.
The emergency appeal funds will go toward shelter support, providing relief items, health services and maintaining water and sanitation services.
The Geneva-based IFRC has already allocated 1.5 million Swiss francs from its Disaster Response Emergency Fund to support immediate life-saving activities in Iran.
The IFRC, which has more than 17 million volunteers in more than 191 countries, is the world’s largest humanitarian network.
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