Publish Date: 10 August 2011 - 20:16

TEHRAN, Aug. 10 (MNA) - Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi sent a letter to Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, the secretary general of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, expressing deep concern over the humanitarian crisis in Somali, which has been affected by famine.

In the letter, Salehi welcomed the OIC’s decision to put the issue of Somalia on the agenda of the next meeting of the organization in a bid to coordinate efforts to dispatch humanitarian aid to Somalis.

He also briefed Ihsanoglu on the humanitarian aid that the Islamic Republic has sent to the African country so far.

On July 20, the United Nations declared a famine in two regions of southern Somalia owing to the worst drought in decades, and appealed for urgent resources to assist millions of people in desperate need of help.

On August 7, Salehi announced that Iran plans to donate $25 million in humanitarian aid to the people affected by famine in Somalia.

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MNA