UN probes large-scale theft of Africa famine aid

Somalis from southern Somalia wait with their malnourished children in Banadir hospital in Mogadishu, Somalia, Aug 15, 2011. / AP Photo

MOGADISHU, Somalia - Thousands of sacks of food aid meant for Somalia's famine victims have been stolen and are being sold at markets, depriving the Somalis who have flooded into the country's capital of urgently needed sustenance, an Associated Press investigation has found.

The U.N.'s World Food Program for the first time acknowledged it has been investigating food theft in Somalia for two months. The WFP said that the "scale and intensity" of the famine crisis does not allow for a suspension of assistance, saying that doing so would lead to "many unnecessary deaths."

The U.N. says more 3.2 million Somalis — nearly half the population — need food aid after a severe drought that has been complicated by Somalia's long-running war. More than 450,000 Somalis live in famine zones controlled by al Qaeda-linked militants, where aid is difficult to deliver. The U.S. says 29,000 Somali children under the age of 5 already have died.

Horn of Africa famine: How to help
Special Section: Desperation in the Horn of Africa
Can the U.S. afford big aid increase to Somalia?

International officials have long expected some of the food aid pouring into Somalia to go missing. But the sheer scale of the theft taking place calls into question aid groups' ability to reach the starving. It also raises concerns about the willingness of aid agencies and the Somali government to fight corruption, and whether diverted aid is fueling Somalia's 20-year-civil war.

"While helping starving people, you are also feeding the power groups that make a business out of the disaster," said Joakim Gundel, who heads Katuni Consult, a Nairobi-based company often asked to evaluate international aid efforts in Somalia. "You're saving people's lives today so they can die tomorrow."

Vast piles of food sacks with stamps on them from the World Food Program, the U.S. government aid arm USAID and the Japanese government are for sale in Mogadishu markets. The AP found eight sites where aid food was being sold in bulk and numerous smaller stores. Among the items being sold were corn, grain, and Plumpy'nut — a specially fortified peanut butter designed for starving children.

An official in Mogadishu with extensive knowledge of the food trade said he believes a massive amount of aid is being stolen — perhaps up to half of aid deliveries — by unscrupulous businessmen. The percentage had been lower, he said, but in recent weeks the flood of aid into the capital with little or no controls has created a bonanza for businessmen.

The official, like the businessmen interviewed for this story, spoke on condition of anonymity to avoid reprisals.

At one of the sites for stolen food aid, about a dozen corrugated iron sheds are stacked with sacks. Outside, women sell food from open 110-pound sacks, and traders load the food onto carts or vehicles under the indifferent eyes of local officials.

Stolen food aid is not new in Somalia — it's the main reason the U.S. military become involved in Somalia during the country's 1992 famine, an intervention that ended shortly after the military battle known as Black Hawk Down. There are no indications the military plans to get involved in this year's famine relief efforts.

WFP said in a statement that it has put into place "strengthened and rigorous" monitoring and control in Somalia.

"However, given the lack of access to much of the territory due to security dangers and restrictions, humanitarian supply lines remain highly vulnerable to looting, attack and diversion by armed groups," WFP told the AP.

[b4uigo]

Could there be anyone in the world suprised by this? Americas enemies are laughing at our stupidity in continuing to fund the UN and its programs. Want to defeat America? Just bankrupt it the same as we did to Russia.

[jeffkro]

No way anybody could have seen that coming. Aid is being siphoned off to fund Al Queda no doubt.

Anyone see blackhawk down 2.0 coming?

[jeffkro]

If there has been one consistency in the world during my 37 years its that Africa has famines with no social order and the Palestinians and Israelis are always killing each other.

[mb91764]

If I'm not mistaking our air-head cliton.Admitted to already giving 500 milllion to this bottomless pit.And she still says we have no choice but to keep giving no matter what you the little people have to say about it.So just keep handed it over till we maybe feed a dozen/

[chonder2]

I agree with quite a few others including Dobie G.

Somalia has NO government and no way to regulate ANYTHING!!

A GOP conservative patriot utopia.

[jeffkro]

lol, nice

[James93x]

If Barack has real sense, he will send more aid to Somalia that ends-up in the black market. This strategy allows the competitive market back into the nation.

[Harden_Tar]

There's a surprise. Who here REALLY thought the aid thing was going to work? When has it ever worked right? We are turning entire nations into welfare states by contantly giving them aid. It sounds cruel, but the people of countries like Somalia do not deserve help until they are in control of their government and able to take care of themselves.

[omded]

Amen.

[Martha12345]

What a sick world.

[dustin93sc]

Thieves steal when they feel deep pangs of hunger. The myth of an African King hoarding this food and medicine as stored gold is white racism.

[Martha12345]

Sure.

[omded]

Now I've heard some complete bull manure in my time, but your post is about as manure-y as they come. Your post is elephant manure.

[love2ridend]

Really???? I thought they were all so honest in Somalia. Just another reason my tax dollars should not fund one dime to them.

[GTR5]

The only aid they need are condoms.

[omded]

I completely agree. They need lots of condoms...and a little instruction as to which head to put them on.

[Harden_Tar]

AND, as the late great Sam Kinison use to say "Send them U-Hauls" to move where the food is.