Tehran – The 20th consignment of Iran's relief supplies was sent to famine-hit Somalia on Saturday.

According to IRNA, the shipment included 541 tons of medical equipment and foodstuff such as powdered milk, biscuits, rice, cans of tuna fish and chocolate.

So far, Iran Red Crescent Society has dispatched over 6,000 tons of medicines and foodstuff to Somalia.

Conflict-wracked Somalia is the country hardest hit by the extreme drought affecting 12 million people across the Horn of Africa.

The United Nations has officially declared famine in Somalia for the first time this century, including in Mogadishu and four southern regions.