AP: Famine aid stolen, UN investigating

[NASSIR]

Terrible News...

 

Somali women selling stolen food aid hide their faces

 

"MOGADISHU: Thousands of sacks of food aid meant for Somalia’s famine victims have been stolen and are being sold at markets, depriving the Somalis who have flooded into the country’s capital of urgently needed sustenance, an Associated Press investigation has found."

 

 

"Stolen food aid is not new in Somalia — it’s the main reason the US military become involved in Somalia during the country’s 1992 famine, an intervention that ended shortly after the military battle known as Black Hawk Down.

There are no indications the military plans to get involved in this year’s famine relief efforts."

 

ArabNews

[Jacaylbaro]

So sad .... even the little offered to the needy has been stolen

[Mayaani]

Umad xaqdaro ku socota har iyo habeen siduu ilaahay uga saara dhibaatada. Kooda laciifka ayay ku xadgudbaan oo intaas dhibaataynayaan. Ilaahay umadaan xaqa ha tuso.

[oba hiloowlow]

Up to half the food aid in Somalia is diverted to corrupt contractors, local UN workers and Islamist militants, a leaked UN report says.

 

The report, by the UN monitoring group in Somalia, is particularly critical of the UN's own World Food Programme and recommends an independent inquiry.

 

It says WFP contracts are awarded to a few powerful individuals who operate cartels that sell the food illegally.

 

The report has not been made public yet, but its contents have been leaked.

 

US funding cut

 

The UN document says food aid is diverted to a web of distributors, transporters and armed groups, with some local UN workers also taking a cut in the profits, the BBC's Barbara Plett reports from the UN.

 

It blames the problem on the food distribution system in the war-torn country, where transporters have to navigate roadblocks manned by various militias and bandits.

 

Extracts of the report have been quoted by the New York Times and by news agencies.

 

According to the leaks, the report says preliminary investigations by the monitoring group "indicate the existence of a de facto cartel".

 

The report says just three contractors receive the vast majority of WFP transportation contracts, making them "some of the wealthiest and most influential individuals in Somalia", the extracts say.

 

We have to go to the root cause of the problem, which is lack of a supported government

Ahmedou Ould Abdallah, UN special representative for Somalia

 

Rebels block UN food aid

 

WFP, which provides most of the relief goods, says previous internal investigations have failed to find proof of widespread abuse but that it will examine the new allegations.

 

The UN secretary general's special representative for Somalia, Ahmedou Ould Abdallah, told the BBC he had seen the report, but that he believed the greatest need in Somalia was a stable and internationally supported government.

 

"With a... government we would avoid this loss [of aid], not only of 50% but of 5%," he said.

 

"We have to go to the root cause of the problem, which is [the] lack of a supported government. We have a government - why don't we support it?"

 

Charges that food aid was being diverted first surfaced in 2009. The US has since reduced funding to Somalia, fearing that aid was falling into the hands of the Islamist group al- Shabab.

 

The World Food Programme has also struggled to keep up with food deliveries.

 

Last month, al-Shabab banned the food agency from operating in Somalia.

 

WFP said it had already announced a suspension of its work in the southern part of the country because of attacks and extortion by local militants.

 

The report is due to be officially presented to the UN Security Council on 16 March.

[A_Khadar]

Inaalilhai wa inaa ilayhi raajicuun war dadka axmaqsanaa! Even the month of Ramadan when before them, many children and women are starving to death.. Umadan halaag baa ku soo socda alle ha inoo fududeeyo..

[Dabrow]

What kind of animals would do such thing? Sometimes I wonder how low people can go....

[Abdul]

The looters who stripped this country bare are still operating this time stealing from people on the verge of starvation.They need to be flashed out as soon as possible.

[NASSIR]

Oba, Is it now a better solution for the WFP to opt for the cash relief method. No need for transportation cost, acquisition cost, middle man fees, insurance, sub-contractors....

This method of responding to the widespread famine not only saves money for the UN agency and others but it also helps affected families respond better to their most immediate needs. The cash relief method also deterrs fraud and theft.

[NASSIR]

Dabrow;740804 wrote:

What kind of animals would do such thing? Sometimes I wonder how low people can go....

 

We're all outraged & frustrated, but we don't have to give up the relief efforts. Perhaps the cash relief method can be a much better solution

[Taleexi]

Indeed we are not in a position to halt the awareness and fund raising but we've to be selective in the avenues for funneling.

[Som@li]

There was a recent report which showed less than 20% of the aid reach the intended needy people.

 

watch this program from Aljazeera

 

http://aljazeera.com/programmes/insidestory/2011/08/201181791343606172.html

[Som@li]

NASSIR;741256 wrote:

. Perhaps the cash relief method can be a much better solution

Actually, cash is worse, it will totally disappear in the hands of corrupted officials. Don't to you remember the story where auditors found only $3 million out $312 million given to the TFG was accounted for? This is a sign of why Somalia is the most corrupted nation on earth.

[Abdul]

How about getting rid of these corrupt officials? Is it hard to get trustworthy people who can get the job done?

[Saalax]

Where is the so called 4km Government or AMISOM? they should put those thiefs stealing from aid destined for the poor famine effected

behind bars.

[Saalax]

DP.