Somalia moves to curb food insecurity

  1. Posted on Tuesday 16 August 2011 - 10:50
    yarrow
    Yarrow Hassan, AfricaNews reporter in Nairobi, Kenya
    The Somali government has created a special force to protect convoys delivering aid agencies to people affected by the prolonged drought and famine. Somalia PM Abdiweli Mohamed Ali said the trained force will comprise of 300 trained government forces with the support of African Union [AU] peace keepers who are currently providing security in Somalia.
    somalia cultural wedding
    He said the trained forces will secure and protect convoys carrying food aid and also fight banditry and looting of relief food.

    The Prime minister's sentiment comes after the UN's World food programme acknowledged for the first time that it has been investigating food theft in Somalia for the last two months.

    According to WFP Somalia country director Stefano porretti, the agency's system of independent third party monitors uncovered allegations of possible food diversion, but he underscored how dangerous the work is.

    'Monitoring food assistance in Somalia is particularly dangerous process’ porretti said.

    The WFP condemns any diversion of relief food from starving and venerable Somalis he added.

    In Mogadisho markets, vast piles of food are for sale with stamps on them from WFP, the USA government and the KUWAIT government.

    Among the items being sold were Kuwait dates, grains, and -fortified peanuts butter designed for starving children

    The WFP has had 14 employees killed in Somalia since 2008.

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