Somalia: World Food
Programmes Closes Food Centers
The
World Food Programme (WFP) is closing 12 feeding
centres for mothers and children in Somalia.
The WFP says the closure was due to in adequate
funds to run the centers.
A WFP spokesman in Nairobi, Kenya Peter Smerdon says
the organisation had little option, considering that
they only received 40% of the funding needed for the
year ahead.
As a result, the UN estimates that more than three
million Somalis need food aid - half the total
population.
In neighbouring Kenya, the organisation is also
running out of food and in Ethiopia and Uganda,
services are being restricted. Despite the depth of
the need, the WFP says the international community
has failed to rally round with the funding it
requires.
The decision to close the feeding centres in Somalia
was particularly difficult for the World Food
Programme.
BBC /Qasim/Austeen