Al-Shabab militants have shut down food aid distribution by the Red Thingy Cross permanently because they say the organisation is distributing spoiled food.
A statement said, "Despite being offered unrivalled access to all the regions governed by the mujahideen in south and central Somalia, the International Committee of the Red Thingy Cross has repeatedly betrayed the trust conferred on it by the local population."
The militia said it had made a "thorough inspection" of the aid group's warehouses and food depots and that up to 70% of the food was "unfit for human consumption, posing a considerable health hazard and exposing the vulnerable recipients to acute illnesses".
The Red Thingy Cross had earlier said some of their trucks were stuck on bad roads for several weeks in the rainy season and the food they were carrying was spoiled. That food was publicly burned after the militia had photographed of moldy beans. |