Wednesday, March 10, 2010
The report by the UN monitoring group in Somalia is particularly critical of the UN's own World Food Programme and recommends an independent inquiry.
It says WFP contracts are awarded to a few powerful individuals who operate cartels that sell the food illegally.
The report has not been made public yet, but its contents have been leaked.
US funding cut
The UN document says food aid is diverted to a web of distributors, transporters and armed groups, with some local UN workers also taking a cut in the profits.
It blames the problem on the food distribution system in the war-torn country, where transporters have to navigate roadblocks manned by various militias and bandits.
WFP, which provides most of the relief goods, says previous internal investigations have failed to find proof of widespread abuse, but it will examine the new allegations.
Charges of food aid being diverted first surfaced last year. The US has since reduced funding to Somalia, fearing that aid was falling into the hands of the Islamist group al- Shabab.
WFP has also struggled to keep up with food deliveries.
Last month, al-Shabab banned the food agency from operating in Somalia.
WFP said it had already announced a suspension of its work in the southern part of the country because of attacks and extortion by local militants.
Source: BBC