Aid Cut to Somalia – A Burden on Kenya

Concerned - President Kibaki

Aid cut to Somalia means a burden for Kenya, President Mwai Kibaki said on Friday. He urged World Food Programme to reconsider its decision as Kenya houses thousands of refugees. The UN decision is the latest setback for Somalia, which has not had an effective central government for two decades. The president however, thanked other aid agencies that for ages assisted Somalia and the region in times of need.

The president met and held discussions with Country Director of the World Food Programme Burkard Oberle and WFP goodwill Ambassador Her Royal Highness (HRH) Princess Haya Bint Al-Hussien of Dubai. Princess Haya and the Country Director in response said WFP would consider Proposals made by President Kibaki in relation to Somalia. The United Nations food agency suspended distribution of desperately needed aid in southern Somalia Tuesday, citing attacks on its staff, a decision affecting up to a million people.

Sources say last year, the al-Shabaab administration in the south-central regions of Bay and Bakool gave aid agencies a list of 11 rules to comply with, including a registration fee of around 14,000 Euros, payable twice a year.

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