Bahrain Provides Additional Relief Aid to Somalia, Funds Specialist Hospital

MANAMA, Bahrain, Sept. 28, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Bahrain continued its relief effort to famine-stricken Somalia today by agreeing to provide its first relief aid consignment to Somalia with the intent to help cure 1,000 citizens with cataracts.

The contract, an initiative of Bahrain's Royal Charity Organization under the direction of Board Chairman Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, was signed following a delegation visit to Somalia's Mogadishu Ophthalmology Specialist Hospital.

Under the agreement, Bahrain will fund the $1.5 million development of a state-of-the-art specialist hospital in Somalia, as well as a nursing school to train medical personnel.

In cooperation with Islamic Relief, Bahrain will also invest $1.2 million to develop ten wells within the country.

Somalia, which suffered a drought earlier this year, is struggling to recover from the food shortage and provide basic care to its citizens. His Majesty King Hamad of Bahrain has prioritized aid to Somalia in hopes of meeting the famine-stricken country's growing medical needs.

SOURCE Kingdom of Bahrain