Displaced persons demonstrate in Somali capital against misuse of food aid

APA Mogadishu (Somalia) Leaders of 100 camps housing internally displaced people (IDPs) in Mogadishu on Tuesday held a demonstration outside Mogadishu mayor's office to protest against corruption in the distribution of food aid. The IDPs asked the mayor to look for a lasting solution to the constant stealing of food aid allocated to them which they say is always sold at markets instead of being distributed to the needy people. "The international aid agencies have sent more shipments of food aid, but local representatives are stealing our aid, so we ask the central government of Somalia and Mogadishu mayor to tackle the matter" said Ali Ahmed, spokesman for the IDPs who talked to reporters outside the mayor's office during the demonstration. Mayor Mohamed Osman Ali told APA that he will investigate the matter to find out if the food aid was being corruptly utilized. "Food aid must reach the vulnerable people who need emergency international help and we are very disappointed if there has been any food mismanagement and we will do our utmost to make things better," the mayor added. Meanwhile, the Somali government minister for relief and humanitarian affairs Dr. Mahmoud Ibrahim Garweyne on Tuesday called for more international aid to Somalia where millions are in need of emergency food help. "We ask the international relief organizations and the Somali business community to do as much as they can to save thousands of lives who are on the verge of death" said the minister, adding that a life saving campaign is currently needed in Somalia during a press conference in Mogadishu. Somalia, which has been under-going bloody armed confrontations for the last 18 years, is now faced with acute shortage of food, with many people dying of hunger, thirst and diseases.

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