The World Food Program (WFP) in Somalia is addressing flaws (mangler) in its distribution system exposed earlier this year by a United Nations Security Council report, which concluded that half the 485 million US dollar in food aid in 2009 was diverted by corrupt contractors, Islamic militants or United Nations staff members.
The report urged UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to open an independent investigation into World Food Program operations in Somalia and to create a database aimed at blacklisting people and firms linked to the kidnapping of aid workers.
In his latest report to the Security Council, Ban said the UN country team in Somalia has begun implementing a “risk management action plan” to address the problems highlighted in the Somalia monitoring group’s March report.
To this end the UN team in Somalia is developing a database of all service providers and revising its control system for the delivery of aid and cash transfers, according to the latest council report.
Ban’s report tou-ched on what it said was a “widespread humanitarian crisis” in Somalia.
It said 3,4 million Somalis – 43 per-cent of the popula-tion – need humani-tarian assistance, including some 1,4 million within Somalia displaced by fighting.
The country has been without an effective government since 1991. Aid agencies have had to cut back operations after Islamic al Shabaab threats.
UN special envoy to Somalia Ahmedou Ould-Abdallah told a meeting of the 15-nation council on Ban’s report that the worsening humanitarian situation in Somalia was “horrendous.” US and British envoys described it as “appalling.”
Kilde: www.worldbank.org
