By Emrah Guney

ISTANBUL

The IHH Humanitarian Relief Foundation is digging 110 water wells in East Africa as part of an emergency aid to deal with the ongoing drought situation in the region, according to the Turkish aid agency.

In a statement released Sunday, the foundation said construction had begun for 40 water wells in Somalia, 30 wells in Sudan's Darfur region, 10 wells in Kenya, 20 in Ethiopia and 10 in Djibouti.

The aid agency also distributed food packages to nearly 4,000 people living in refugee camps in the South Sudanese capital, Juba.

"We also aim to provide aid to refugees from the Bentiu region. The lack of state authority in this region leads to increasing need of assistance. We expect support of our donors." the agency’s East Africa desk coordinator, Ismail Songur, said in a statement.

The IHH is also distributing food packages to 500 families in Yemen's capital Sanaa and the Amran governorate.

The IHH, which began operating in 1995, has opened 32 orphanages in 11 countries in the last 22 years.