From: Berhane Habtemariam (Berhane.Habtemariam@gmx.de)
Date: Wed Mar 10 2010 - 07:24:28 EST
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U.N. reports diversion of Somalia aid
Associated Press
March 10, 2010
United Nations - Much of the food aid intended for Somalia's poor is
diverted to corrupt contractors, radical Islamic militants and local U.N.
workers, according to a Security Council report.
The findings, not yet made public, were first reported Tuesday by the New
York Times.
A United Nations diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity because the
report has not been released, confirmed that "a significant diversion" of
food delivered by the U.N. food program ends up in the hands of cartels,
which then sell it illegally.
The report blames the problem on improper food distribution, the diplomat
said.
The Times said the report recommends that U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon
open an independent investigation into the World Food Program's Somalia
operations.
The report also finds that regional Somali authorities are collaborating
with pirates, and says that government ministers have auctioned off
diplomatic visas, the newspaper reported. According to the paper, Somali
officials deny that the visa problem is widespread.
Somalia's government, with U.S. military aid, is readying an offensive to
combat an Islamist insurgency linked to Al Qaeda and retake Mogadishu, the
largely lawless capital.
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