Aid for Somalian Famine Victims Is Being Stolen

Food meant for starving children is showing up for sale at markets instead

The news out of Somalia is only getting worse. As drought and famine continue to ravage Somalia, food aid meant for starved victims isn't making it to the hungry, reports the Associated Press. "Thousands of sacks of food aid meant for Somalia’s famine victims have been stolen and are being sold at markets in the same neighborhoods where skeletal children in filthy refugee camps can’t find enough to eat." Even once food has reached the neediest hands, it may never make it to their mouths, the AP continues.

And the aid is not even safe once it has been distributed to families huddled in the makeshift camps popping up around the capital. Families at the large, government-run Badbado camp said they were often forced to hand back aid after journalists had taken photos of them with it.
 

Ali Said Nur said he received two sacks of maize twice, but each time was forced to give one to the camp leader.

The U.N. estimates that more than 3.2 million Somalis need the aid and getting food to the needy has been particularly difficult, since many Somalis live in zones controlled by al-Qaeda.