Saturday, July 28, 2012
Houffaneh thanked Serhat Kucukkurt, programme co-ordinator for the Turkish International Co-operation and Development Agency (TIKA), for Turkey's prior support to Djibouti as the country attempts to minimise the negative affects of drought.
Houffaneh proposed further co-operation between Djibouti and Turkey in the form of police officer training in disaster management. "An expert committee will soon be sent to Djibouti," Kucukkurt said.
TIKA has donated 2,000 tonnes of foodstuffs to Djibouti, which is distributed through the National Office for Refugees and Disaster Victims (ONARS). TIKA is also working to provide ONARS with logistical support, and has plans to build a pesticide storage facility in ONARS' storage sheds.
Houffaneh told the official news agency that the government's programmes to help victims of drought will last until September, with foodstuffs distributed in the capital and the interior regions.