Turkish premier says trying to reach $500 million target to meet urgent needs in Somalia

ISTANBUL (A.A) - August 22, 2011 - Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said Turkey was exerting intense efforts to reach a target of 500 million USD to meet the urgent needs of people in Somalia which suffers from the worst drought and famine in 60 years in the Horn of Africa.
"In an Istanbul meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation last week, we have secured 350 million USD. This is a very small sum and almost half of it is Turkey's donation. We are trying to reach the 500 million USD target, which is the urgent need of the Somalis," Erdogan told a fast breaking dinner in Istanbul on Sunday.       
Erdogan last week visited Mogadishu and several refugee camps in the country, pledging more aid in cash and infrastructure.  
A total of 245.2 million Turkish liras (around 137 million USD) have been collected in donations for Somalia and Africa as August 18 in Turkey. Part of the donations came in aid campaigns initiated by the Turkish Prime Ministry and the Directorate General of Religious Affairs.
Erdogan said the Turkish Red Crescent continued efforts to erect a tent site of 2,000, adding that the Turkish Ministry of Health had set up a field hospitals with five more to come. Erdogan also said Turkey was set to re-open a hospital compound within the next 4 to 5 months. 
The Turkish premier said security was the top challenge in Somalia, adding that the Turkish Foreign Ministry was set to take steps to help facilitate a settlement to Somalia's internal conflict.