Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Somali PM charges aid agencies with not properly helping drought hit people

Statement comes a day after Mogadishu mayor disclosed that more than 85,000 people, who had fled from drought-hit regions, had reached the capital in search of food and water.

The prime minister of Somalia's transitional federal government on Tuesday charged international aid agencies, including those of the United Nations, with not properly assisting his drought-displaced citizens.

Abdiweli Mohamed Ali made the comments during a fleeting visit to the several camps for drought-displaced people in the districts of Wadajir, Waberi, and Hamarweyne of the capital Mogadishu.

Accompanied by members of his cabinet, the mayor of Mogadishu and police, Ali walked through the camps to observe the situation of the displaced residents.

“We will launch full and tough accountability measures to trace how the aid agencies are assisting those who are in desperate need for help,” the prime minister told reporters at a camp near Mogadishu’s international airport where 1,800 drought-affected people are encamped.

“They [aid agencies] are given money claiming they will help Somalia, despite that the people who arrived at Mogadishu are dying of hunger and that is unacceptable absolutely,” he explained, citing the UN High Commissioner for Refugees and other organizations in Mogadishu as examples.

The prime minister’s statement comes a day after Mogadishu Mayor Mohamoud Ahmed Nur disclosed that more than 85,000 people, who had fled from drought-hit regions, had reached the capital in search of food and water.

After al Shabaab banned aid agencies from operating in the areas they control, some UN and local organizations moved into the government controlled areas in Mogadishu.

The prime minister said the government, with the collaboration of Arab nations such as Kuwait, United Arab Emirates and Qatar, has managed to relocate and help thousands of drought-hit people in the capital. Aid is delivered to the camps but Ali noted UN agencies, which the prime minister said have some aid stored in Mogadishu, have yet to distribute it.

No comments were immediately available from aid agencies.

Source: www.allheadlinenews.com

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