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DUBAI, March 24 (Xinhua) -- The world's third biggest maritime port operator DP World said here on Friday it has started delivery of over 4.5 million liters of water to drought-stricken Somaliland.
The water will be distributed in 410 tankers, and is estimated to reach 15,000 people living in villages in the Sahil region over the next month.
The aid came less than a month after the company took over operations for the management and development of a multi-purpose port in Somaliland's Berbera.
Over 1.6 million people in Somaliland, or 46 percent of the population, are in need of humanitarian aid as the drought dries out wells, causes crop failure and deaths of livestock.
"This work aims to address the immediate needs of the people in the Sahil region," said DP World Group Chairman and CEO Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, adding that the company "will continue to monitor the situation and work with partners to offer sustainable aid solutions in the future."
DP World's investment in the port of Berbera will include a first phase of a 400-meter quay and 250,000-square-meter yard extension.
The company has been supporting regional and international measures to fight piracy off the Somali coast in recent years.
