Turkish health ministry says is ready to dispatch field hospitals to Somalia

ANKARA (A.A) - August 10, 2011 - Turkish health minister on Wednesday said as many as six field hospital units were on standby to be dispatched to drought-stricken Somalia which faces the worst famine in over 20 years.
"We are ready to set up as many as six field hospitals in Somalia once the security condition allow and appropriate places are allocated," Recep Akdag told Anadolu Agency.
Akdag said each field hospital unit housed 20 personnel including doctors and nurses -- all volunteers -- as well as with all necessary medical equipments.
Akdag said the Turkish government sent earlier this week 10 tones of medication and medical supplies, which he said were meant to cure drought-triggered diseases such malnutrition, infectious diseases and dehydration.   
Tens of thousands of people are suffering drought and famine in Somalia and head for refugee camps in Kenya and Ethiopia in search of food and water. 
The World Food Program estimates that 10 million people already need humanitarian aid. The U.N. Children's Fund estimates that more than 2 million children are malnourished and in need of lifesaving action in the region.