UN plays down theft of Somalia famine relief

THE UN World Food Programme has insisted it will not reduce emergency aid shipments to Somalia despite allegations of fraud, saying that although such complaints are frequent it does not believe there have been big losses.

WFP said it is bringing 5,000 tons a month of food into the Somali capital of Mogadishu to help the famine-hit nation. Tens of thousands of people each week are fleeing famine in Somalia to neighbouring Ethiopia and Kenya.

An investigation found that sacks of grain, peanut butter snacks and other food staples meant for starving Somalis are being stolen and sold in Somali markets, raising concerns that unscrupulous individuals and gangs are stealing from international famine relief efforts. One official in Mogadishu estimated up to half of the recent food shipments may have been stolen.

WFP officials disputed that figure. Lauren Landis, the new director of WFP’s Geneva office, said it seems “implausible” that a large amount of food is being diverted because it would pose a huge logistical challenge.

“Large losses of food is abnormal, because we know how to do this,” Landis said.