South Africa to deliver supplies to Somalia

JOHANNESBURG - South Africa will use a military aircraft to deliver 18 tons of supplies to famine victims in Somalia this week, aid group Gift of the Givers said on Monday.

According to South African Press Association, the C130 Hercules airplane would deliver essential food and anti-malaria medication to Mogadishu on Tuesday.

Department of international relations and cooperation spokesman Clayson Monyela said the SA National Defence Force (SANDF) would be delivering the supplies for free. This will be Gift of the Givers sixth flight to the region.

"It is heartening to note that Mogadishu civil aviation granted Gift of the Givers landing rights in less than 5 minutes of receipt of paperwork," said Imtiaz Sooliman, chairman of Gift of the Givers.

Sooliman said the Gift of the Givers were discussing the possibility of more flights with local and Somali government officials.

The famine in Somalia has left more than 12 million people in need of food aid in the Horn of Africa. Last Tuesday, South African deputy International Relations Minister Marius Fransman said government has committed 8 million rand ($1.12 million) to assisting the starving Somalians.