Food looted from UN trucks

2008-09-26 08:40

Mogadishu - Rampaging crowds on Thursday looted food from more than 30 trucks belonging to the World Food Programme in Somalia's war-riven capital Mogadishu, a United Nations official and witnesses said.

Residents of Mogadishu's Suqaholaha district stole the supplies after intercepting the trucks headed for the southern Bakol region, one of the worst drought-hit areas in the lawless country.

"The convoy was carrying food aid to Bakol region and, as it was crossing northern Mogadishu, we got information that the food was looted," a local UN official said on condition of anonymity.

About 3.2 million Somalis are in need of emergency food aid due to a prolonged drought worsened by widespread insecurity and record-high inflation.

"We tried to protect the food from the crowds, but they seemed too hungry to stop," said Sheikh Abdi Hirsi, an Islamist commander.

"They hurriedly looted the food, but I hope the agency will get more food for the areas it was destined."

Last week, a WFP-chartered ship ferrying about 4 000 tons of food aid arrived at the Mogadishu under the escort of a Canadian frigate to deter an attack by pirates.

According to the International Maritime Board, 55 ships have been attacked off Somalia since January and more than a dozen are still being held for ransom.

Somalia's 3 700km coastline is infested with pirates, making the Gulf of Aden and neighbouring parts of the Indian Ocean among the most dangerous waterways in the world.

The country has been without an effective central authority since the 1991 ouster of former president Mohamed Siad Bare set off a deadly power struggle that has defied more than a dozen peace initiatives.

- AFP