Somali officials have expressed gratitude to the UAE for standing beside the Somali people in their untold suffering, affirming that the UAE is at the forefront of aid donors to Somalia.

In statements to Emirates News Agency, WAM, a number of Somali officials said that the UAE, under the leadership of President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan; Vice President and Prime Minister, and Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, and His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, is a nation that treasures the values of humanity as history testifies that UAE assistance, including political and military to Somalia, has never been affected by developments in the Somali internal front as the prime goal is to help and enable the Somali people to overcome their disasters and crises facing it without any return or end.

During a media gathering at the Somali Embassy in Abu Dhabi that was organised to express gratitude to the UAE for its continued support for alleviating the suffering of the Somali people under the severe conditions they are going through, former Somali President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed commended the humanitarian position adopted by the UAE leadership towards the Somali people across the years.

He reiterated that the Somali people will never forget that the UAE has been standing firm with the Somalis to assuage their suffering after the several terrorists attacks they have come under.

The get-together was attended by Somali Prime Minister Omar Abdirashid Ali Sharmarke and Abdulkadir Sheikhey Mohammad Al Hatimi, Ambassador of Somalia to the UAE, along with a number of Somali diplomats.

The ex-Somali president recalled the noble stances of late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, affirming that his nobility and generosity will go down in history as an example of the constant support extended by the leadership, government and people of the UAE to the Somali people to weather their calamities.

The UAE has always been extending relief assistance, establishing developmental and services projects in Somalia without waiting for returns, said the former Somali Prime Minister.

For his part, the Somali ambassador to the country, said UAE men have spared no effort in carrying out their humanitarian duty towards the Somali people and defied challenges to do that.

''The UAE diplomats in Somalia have donated blood to save the lives of those injured in the last Saturday's bloody explosion in the capital, Mogadishu," he said.