UN denies Somali rebels got aid
2010-02-17 19:04
Nairobi - The UN's food agency on Wednesday rejected claims that some of its staff had diverted aid to hardline Somali rebels and called on the US to free up millions of dollars meant for the Horn of African nation.
The World Food Programme (WFP) said its investigation into the possible diversion of aid had absolved staff and partner organisations distributing food in Somalia.
Washington is withholding millions of dollars in aid amid fears it benefits Shebab insurgents, a group that has declared loyalty to al-Qaeda and wants to impose its own harsh version of sharia law throughout the country.
"WFP has concluded an internal investigation and we found no evidence that our staff divert food and there was no evidence that our transporters did the same," said Peter Smerdon, the WFP's spokesperson in Nairobi.
The investigation followed reports that food aid meant for Somali civilians was finding its way into the hands of the Shebab, which controls much of southern and central Somalia.
World's highest malnutrition
Fighting in Somalia has killed at least 21 000 people and forced more than 1.5 million from their homes since the start of 2007, leading to what aid agencies describe as the world's worst humanitarian crisis.
According to new estimates from the UN's Food Agricultural Organisation, 42% of the Somalia population need aid, and the country has the world's highest malnutrition levels.
WFP suspended its work in much of southern Somalia in January due to threats against its staff and because Shebab was demanding payments for security.
The UN humanitarian co-ordinator for Somalia accused Washington of politicising aid funds after negotiations aimed at releasing the millions of dollars for Somalia stalled.
"Where the negotiations have stalled are the practicalities of the measures the agencies have to undertake and that, in my view, is politicisation of serious humanitarian issues," Mark Bowden told reporters in Nairobi. He declined to elaborate on what those measures were.
"No UN agency has paid any money to the Shebab," he said.
The UN agencies said the curbs on funding for areas under Shebab were forcing some to cut back on programmes and leading to even more suffering for desperate Somalis. The US is the biggest aid donor to Somalia.
"We are going into this year in a very worrying financial situation," Bowden said.
Somalia has lacked an effective central government since 1991. An African Union AMISOM peacekeeping mission in Somalia is slowly being bolstered. It is made up of about 5 200 troops and will eventually increase to 8 000.