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.