UN accuses US of delaying aid

Rome - The United Nations says it's running out of food for millions of starving Somalis in part because the United States is delaying aid amid fears it could be intercepted by militants linked to al-Qaeda.

Starting last month, the UN World Food Programme has cut rations by up to half for some people in the lawless, impoverished east African nation and will run out of supplies in December, the Rome-based agency said on Saturday.

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The United States is WFP's largest donor, providing usually about half of the food aid that the agency delivers to some 2.2 million people in Somalia. The country has been crippled by 18 years of civil war, an Islamic insurgency, high food prices and a severe drought.

So far this year, the State Department says the United States has provided $179m to help Somalis, including $124m in food aid.

Smerdon said WFP and other humanitarian agencies were discussing with US officials and other donor countries measures that would prevent aid from being diverted to al-Shabab. The Islamic militant group is linked to al-Qaeda and controls much of southern Somalia.

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ToxicBunny said:

I have a solution that will solve the Hunger problem.. and the Homeless problem...

Feed the Homeless to the Hungry.

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Hosehead said:

Doesn't the US have a huge outstanding bill with the UN?

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ponder said:

Ja but in all fairness they contribute the most out of all the countries in the UN. Kinda like biting the hand that feeds you.

The US alone contributes about 22%. United States, Japan, Germany, the United Kingdom, France, Italy, China, Canada, Spain, and the Republic of Korea contribute 75% of all the funds. The rest of the world (not all) contribute the rest.

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Frankie said:

Out of interest, do these figures include the non-governmental contributions.

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