Mogadishu (Sunatimes) Indian Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan SinghIndia has announced that it will provide humanitarian assistance of $ 8 million through the World Food Programme to Somalia and other countries afflicted by the severe drought and famine in the Horn of Africa.

India has also contributed $ 1.5 million to the AU Trust Fund on Somalia and $ 0.5 million to the UN Trust Fund.

The Indian aid to Somalia is said to be part of the assistance announced by Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh for augmenting the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) at the India-Africa Forum Summit-II in Addis Ababa, in May this year.

The country also said it would cooperate with Somalia in capacity building in areas such as fisheries, IT and agriculture.

On piracy, India said it will consider extending its technical assistance to Somalia in developing a counter piracy policy and strategy.

India said is firmly committed to the progress and development of Africa, adding that its economic package of $ 5.7 billion for the African countries, over the next three years, is demonstrative of its time tested ties and commitment.

By Fadumo Farah.