UN Food Aid Restored in Somalia

Mysterious obstacles disappear as help is allowed again to devastated region
By Lucas Laursen,  Newser Staff
Posted Dec 5, 2007 6:56 AM CST
UN Food Aid Restored in Somalia
U.N. top humanitarian official John Holmes visits a cholera center in Mogadishu, Somalia, in this May 12, 2007 file photo. U.N. humanitarian chief John Holmes said Tuesday, December 3, 2007 that access for agencies is difficult. (AP Photo/Radu Sigheti, Pool)   (Associated Press)

United Nations food aid has been restored to Somalia today after it was suspended yesterday, when the government hiked road tolls to $500 a truck and prevented two ships from delivering food to the problem-plagued Lower Shabelle region. UN aid teams were given no explanation for the trouble. But a government letter said that “despite all that happened, this is to certify that the humanitarian operations can be resumed."

Somali President Abdullahi Yusuf was to meet with regional leaders and US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, but was hospitalized yesterday, reports Agence France Presse. The food is intended for the million Somalis who fled fighting in Modagishu to camps around the capital. The Lower Shabelle was also hit by floods last month. (More Somalia stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X