US 'to aid Islamist areas of famine-hit Somalia'
 

The US has said it will send aid to famine-hit areas of Somalia controlled by the Islamist group al-Shabab.

But US aid officials say assurances must be given that the insurgents will not interfere with its distribution.

The US considers al-Shabab a terrorist group and last year stopped aid to the large area of Somalia it controls.

The UN has declared a famine in two areas of southern Somalia as the region experiences the worst drought in more than half a century.

Al-Shabab, an al-Qaeda-affiliated group which controls large swathes of south and central Somalia, had imposed a ban on foreign aid agencies in its territories in 2009, but has recently allowed limited access.

The deputy administrator of the US Agency for International Development, Donald Steinberg, said the aid must not benefit al-Shabab.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-14222584


Note: 20 July 2011 Last updated at 20:35 GMT

Why? "Hearts and minds?" I think we lost that battle long time ago.

If we send anything it should be Alpo because dogs are the only foreigners that like americans. :D

Yes you can "interpret" it also, :cool:

If we send in aid, it better not be from unescorted ships. If we're going to be doing aid, it should be aerial drops. Hold on... Why are we aiding lawless, ungoverned people that are generally don't like us? And why is "Islamist" specified? Don't a lot of "Islamists" (not Muslims) from that part of the world... Uh... Shoot at us?

Maybe I'm not giving them enough credit - but if there is a single AK47 when they get ready to land the aid - I'd say pull out.

Because it sounds sensational; it gets you to read the paper, click the link or watch the news. It is how all media operates, and has since time immemorial. It is effective at many levels; after all, Vendor got both you and I to click and post here.

So true

What, again? What's wrong with those people?

Last time we sent aid, they rose us and fought us.

Not true.

USA's Government is over generouse with US People's money.

A domestic welfare state is bad enough, but an internationalised welfare state needs to be curbed, yesterday.

Precise, :03: ^1+

I only hope Cameron doesn't find out and start following the US lead.

Nothing is incredible these days, Cameron opens the safe wallet again.....:hmmm:

Somali Islamists maintain aid ban and deny famine
 

Somalia's al-Shabab Islamists have denied lifting their 2009 ban on Western aid agencies and say UN reports of famine are "sheer propaganda".

The UN on Wednesday said that parts of Somalia were suffering a famine after the worst drought in 60 years.

A spokesman for al-Shabab, which has ties to al-Qaeda and controls much of the country, accused aid groups of being political.

But the UN insists famine exists and it will continue its aid efforts.

Most Western aid agencies quit Somalia in 2009 following al-Shabab's threats.

The UN World Food Programme (WFP) was one of those banned.

It says it is planning to airlift food into the capital, Mogadishu, in the coming days to help the thousands of malnourished children who face starvation in the country.

Some 10 million people are said to need food aid across East Africa but Somalia is by far the worst affected country, as there is no national government to co-ordinate aid after two decades of fighting.

Thousands of people are fleeing areas under al-Shabab control to camps set up in areas of the capital controlled by the weak interim government, which is battling the Islamist insurgents.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-14246764

Note: Update Record,22 July 2011 Last updated at 11:32 GMT

Sorry, just noticed this.

I doubt any country could afford to bank roll an 'internationalised welfare state' these days.

Exactly the point.
They can't afford it (they're in the hole), but that doesn't seem to slow them down.
And it's not just a problem in USA.

That this applies to other countries, and their commitments on the issue.

Aid reaches drought victims in Islamist area of Somalia
 

The Red Cross says it has delivered food into one of Somalia's worst hit drought areas, controlled by the Islamist militant group al-Shabab.

Working through a local committee, the Red Cross delivered by lorry food for 24,000 people.

The badly needed aid was distributed to families in the town of Baardhere, north-west of the capital Mogadishu.

But the World Food Programme says it cannot reach 2.2m people inside Somalia.

The food was delivered by the Red Cross was sent in from Mogadishu and given to locals and others who had come to the town to escape the famine.

The delivery took place on Saturday, and the Red Cross are now moving on to other areas.

The aid consisted of beans, rice and oil - enough rations to last a family one month.

This indicates that although al-Shabab has halted food aid by some agencies in areas they control, other agencies can operate in their territory.
Banned aid

This is vital, if the flow of Somalis into neighbouring Kenya and Ethiopia is to be reduced.

The World Food Programme is among the agencies banned by the Islamists.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-14267538


Note: Update Record,24 July 2011 Last updated at 11:03 GMT

Somali famine: Fighting in Mogadishu after aid delivery
 

Heavy fighting has broken out in the Somali capital, Mogadishu, a day after the UN World Food Programme airlifted in its first famine emergency aid.

At least four people are reported to have been killed as government forces, backed by African Union troops, attacked Islamist insurgents.

The BBC's Mohamed Dhore in Mogadishu says the clashes are in northern areas and unlikely to affect the aid effort.

Thousands have arrived into government-controlled suburbs in search of food.

Correspondents say if the pro-government forces manage to gain more ground this could enable aid agencies to increase the areas where they can deliver food aid to victims of the severe drought.

The WFP delivery is the first airlift of food aid since the UN declared a famine in two southern areas of Somalia last week.

Al-Shabab, the al-Qaeda linked group which controls much of Somalia, has banned the WFP from its areas.

Our correspondent says the fighting started just after dawn when the government and African peacekeeping troops launched an offensive on an al-Shabab stronghold in the north of the city, about 7km (four miles) from the airport.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-14323426


Note: Update Record,28 July 2011 Last updated at 11:53 GMT

Well, it looks like they've always got enough ammo and weapons so I'd stop the aid shipments until the fighting stopped.