JEDDAH, 27 March — The Director of the Saudi Al-Haramain Charitable Foundation in Somalia, Al-Zayid Omer Idris Shami, has said that his office will continue to carry out its humanitarian activities in the poor African nation, denying that his office is involved in any illegal activities.
The United States recently froze the assets of Al-Haramain Charitable Foundation’s two offices in Somalia and Bosnia, accusing the charity of funding terrorist organizations — including Al-Qaeda and its alleged local cells in Somalia.
“Washington acted on inaccurate information about the activities of Al-Haramain. We will continue to serve needy people,” Shami said in a press release, which Arab News received yesterday.
“Al-Haramain takes care of more than 3,000 orphans, finances over 100 schools and distributes thousands of tons of foodstuffs annually,” the statement continued.
Somalia’s socio-economic infrastructure, including all government buildings, libraries, schools, universities and hospitals, have been destroyed or looted during the ongoing civil war. Law and order has also collapsed, while an estimated one million people are either displaced within the country or have sought refuge abroad. “For the last 11 years of anarchy and civil strife, Arab and Islamic non-governmental organizations have focused on providing us humanitarian assistance,” Ahmed Muhammad Mahmoud, a teacher at an Arab NGO-funded secondary school in Mogadishu, told Arab News by telephone.
He added that Al-Haramain foundation is one of the largest aid groups in the country.
“The NGOs have invested in a series of important welfare projects, such as orphanages and schools. The most useful projects are the renovation of schools and the payment of teachers’ salaries,” he added. “Now children at all levels get a basic of education.”
Mahmoud said most Somalis have expressed their surprise at the US decision to freeze the assets of the Al-Haramain’s local office.
