AL Shabab order WFP to halt food imports

[Kanada]

The U.N.'s World Food Programme must immediately stop importing food to Somalia, the islamic opposition ordered on Wednesday, accusing the aid agency of devastating local agriculture.
In a statement, the Office for the Supervision of the Affairs of Foreign Agencies of Harakat Shabaab Al-Mujahideen said imports by the U.N. organisation had become a barrier to Somalia's self-sufficiency.
"It has been decided that WFP must immediately refrain from bringing food rations from outside Somalia and rather purchase food from Somali farmers and then that food will be distributed to the needy," the statement said.
"The bringing of immense quantities of free food rations, specifically during the harvest season, has been devastating to the agriculture industry in Somalia and has greatly discouraged the Somali people from the agricultural trade."
The Office said all local businesspeople contracted by WFP must terminate those contracts before Jan. 1, 2010, and that WFP must empty its warehouses and food stocks by the same date.
A WFP spokesman in neighbouring Kenya had no immediate comment.

http://hiiraan.com/news2/2009/Nov/somal ... ports.aspx

[Advo]

Although on the right path, it's poorly put into effect.

They should decrease the amount of aid gradually until the food market in Somalia is self sufficient.

[Kanada]

Although on the right path, it's poorly put into effect.

They should decrease the amount of aid gradually until the food market in Somalia is self sufficient.

Even though it may be poorly executued it is still better than doing nothing.

[Padishah]

If it produces starvation, then nothing would have been better. Let's hope it doesn't.