The Portland Press Herald / The Maine Sunday Telegram

March 11

Half of food aid for Somalia not reaching needy, U.N. report says

A 'significant' amount of food reportedly is being diverted to cartels that sell it illegally.

The Associated Press

UNITED NATIONS — Up to half the food aid intended for the millions of hungry people in Somalia is being diverted to corrupt contractors, radical Islamic militants and local U.N. workers, according to a U.N. Security Council report.

The report blames the problem on improper food distribution by the U.N. World Food Program in Somalia, which has been plagued by fighting and humanitarian suffering for nearly two decades, according to a U.N. diplomat. The diplomat spoke on condition of anonymity because the report has not been released.

It calls on U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to authorize an independent investigation of the Rome-based food agency's operation in Somalia.

Because of the instability, transporters must truck bags of food through roadblocks manned by a bewildering array of militias, insurgents and bandits. Kidnappings and executions are common and the insecurity makes it difficult for senior U.N. officials to travel to the country to check on procedures. Investigators could end up relying on the same people they are checking to provide protection.

The U.N. diplomat told The Associated Press that "a significant diversion" of food delivered by the U.N. food program is going to cartels that are selling it illegally, according to the report by the panel of experts monitoring U.N. sanctions against Somalia.

Although WFP contracts are supposed to be subject to open tender and competitive bidding, "in practice the system offers little or no scope for genuine competition," the diplomat quoted the report as saying.

The transportation contracts, with a budget of $200 million, constitute the most important source of revenue in Somalia. The report was quoted as saying that some contractors have become some of the wealthiest men in Somalia.

Some 3.7 million people in Somalia – nearly half of the population – need aid.