Food aid 'diverted to militants'
Much of the food aid intended for Somalia's poor is diverted to corrupt contractors and militants, says UN report
Wednesday March 10 2010
A UN Security Council report has found that much of the food aid intended for Somalia's poor is diverted to corrupt contractors, radical Islamist militants and local UN workers.
The findings, not yet made public, were first reported by The New York Times on Tuesday.
A UN diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed that "a significant diversion" of food being delivered by the UN food programme is being diverted to cartels who were selling it illegally.
The report blames the problem on improper food distribution, the diplomat said.
The newspaper said the report recommends Secretary General Ban Ki-moon open an independent investigation into the World Food Programme's Somalia operations.
