CNN: More than 1 million going hungry in Somalia

Jan 5th, 2010 9:59 AM UTC
By Chris Scott

CNN is reporting this morning that threats and attacks from militant groups have made it nearly impossible for the World Food Program to effectively deliver food to hungry Somalians, leading to “a partial suspension food distribution in much of southern Somalia.” This puts over a million people in that area at serious risk. You can read the full report here.

“WFP is deeply concerned about rising hunger and suffering among the most vulnerable due to these unprecedented and inhumane attacks on purely humanitarian operations,” the agency said in a statement.

One of the recent threats to the food agency occurred in late November when Islamist militants in Somalia warned the agency to buy food from Somali farmers or stop sending aid to the impoverished African country.

That threat came from al-Shabaab, a group that has waged a bloody insurgency against the U.N.-backed government of transitional President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed.

Four of the agency’s staff members were killed in Somalia between August 2008 and January 2009.

Despite difficulties in southern Somalia, the agency says it is still dispensing food in the capital city Mogadishu and several other areas.

The agency says it is still able to reach more than 60 percent of those in need or about 1.8 million people.

TAGS: Somalia