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Africa Horn | |
1.1 m Somalis hit as Al-Shabab forces ICRC food aid suspension | |
2012-01-13 | |
GENEVA: The International Committee of the Red A Somali government minister told Reuters the suspension could worsen the humanitarian crisis in a country where 250,000 Somalis already live in famine conditions and a total of 4 million need aid, according to UN figures. The ICRC, which was one of the last agencies working in “The suspension will continue until we receive assurances from the The ICRC said it was talking to Al-Shabab, an Islamist The
Abdullahi Haji Hassan, Somalia’s agriculture minister, said the action by the “Al Shabab wants the Somalis to perish,” Hassan told Reuters on Thursday. The suspension also hit the ICRC’s distribution of seeds and fertilizers to farmers, part or its emergency operation begun last October to combat the effects of severe drought and war. Somalia is the ICRC’s second largest humanitarian program after Afghanistan, with an initial budget of about 70.2 million Swiss francs for this year. “The suspension of aid will have effect on both civilians and Al-Shabab ... Al Shabab Residents said the “Al Shabab halted the ICRC aid a fortnight ago. Al Shabab wants only Islamic organizations like Islamic Relief which also operates here,” local elder Mohamed Nur told Reuters from Bardhere District in southwest Somalia. “We the people need ICRC to continue aid but we have no power to challenge Al-Shabab. The rebels openly told ICRC that Islamic organizations brought abundant food.” | |
Posted by:Steve White |
#6 I think the problem is *any* food going to *anyone* in Somalia. Somalia has about 10m people. Why? If Somalis eat, then they kill each other. Maybe if they stop eating, they will be interested in something other than killing each other. Like eating. |
Posted by: Anonymoose 2012-01-13 16:08 |
#5 "The ICRC said it was talking to Al-Shabab." Hmm, following the Obama-Karzai model of talking to the Taliban? What could go wrong? |
Posted by: American Delight 2012-01-13 13:28 |
#4 "starvation and death by disease is very Islamic. Soooo 7th Century!" |
Posted by: Frank G 2012-01-13 09:38 |
#3 From the perspective of Al Shabab: "It's for their own good. Better they should die of starvation than be damned to eternal Hell for eating food handled by non-Muslims." |
Posted by: Glenmore 2012-01-13 07:27 |
#2 Residents said the militants wanted only Islamic agencies to provide aid in the areas it controls, and many would flee to the capital Mogadishu to find food. This is as bad as it gets and they still let their own die. They cannot be reasoned with. |
Posted by: gorb 2012-01-13 05:28 |
#1 So, the ICRC saves itself some money if as stated the rc can deliver enough. Put it to the test. |
Posted by: Whiskey Mike 2012-01-13 04:14 |