Somali rebels put kids at risk
2009-05-20 22:09
Nairobi - The lives of more than 50 000 severely malnourished children are at risk after Islamist militants looted medical and relief stocks in a town in central Somalia, Unicef said on Wednesday.
The UN Children's Fund deplored what it termed large-scale looting and destruction of supplies by the Shebab when they seized Jowhar town, 90km north of the capital Mogadishu on Sunday.
The fighters damaged a vaccine store, destroying thousands of measles, polio and other vaccine doses. They also looted food meant for preventing acute malnutrition among children, Unicef said in a statement.
"Over 50 000 severely malnourished children who are in life-threatening conditions, in addition to over 85 000 moderately malnourished children, will be affected," it said.
"Unicef urges all parties involved to have children's wellbeing at heart. Humanitarian operations must not be impeded," said Christian Balslev-Olesen, the agency's representative for Somalia.
Islamist insurgents launched attacks against government forces earlier this month and so far more than 100 people have been killed and 45 000 displaced.