Al-Qaeda-Linked al-Shabab Islamists Shut Down Red Cross’ Food Aid to Famine-Hit Somalia
- Posted on January 31, 2012 at 6:22am by
Billy Hallowell
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NAIROBI, Kenya (The Blaze/AP) — Somali insurgents have shut down food aid distribution by a major aid group because they say the organization is distributing spoiled food in the famine-hit south.
The al-Shabab militant group said late Monday that they were shutting down the Red Cross’ operation permanently. Over the summer of 2011, the group also shut-down aid that was needed to help children and families who are desperately in need.
The radical group, which is estimated to have 14,000 members, controls a substantial portion of south and central Somalia. As we’ve reported before, al-Shabaab enforces sharia law and has been responsible for beheadings and other forms of torture and murder. The al-Qaeda-linked terror group has vowed to purge Somalia of Christianity, while fighting the “enemies” of Islam.
“Despite being offered unrivaled access to all the regions governed by the Mujahideen in South and Central Somalia, the International Committee of the Red Cross has repeatedly betrayed the trust conferred on it by the local population,” said the statement from the al-Qaida-linked militia.
The militia said they conducted a “thorough inspection” of the aid group’s warehouses and food depots and found that up to 70 percent of the food was “unfit for human consumption, posing a considerable health hazard and exposing the vulnerable recipients to acute illnesses.”
A Red Cross spokeswoman said Tuesday that the organization did not have immediate comment.
The Red Cross previously said some trucks were stuck on bad roads for several weeks in the rainy season and the food aboard them was spoiled. That food – about 2,000 tons, according to al-Shabab – was publicly burned after the militia had taken photos of the moldy beans.
The Red Cross began distributing monthly rations to 1.1 million people in October and were midway through the second distribution when a convoy of trucks was stopped by al-Shabab in mid-December in Jowhar. Negotiations for their release took several weeks but were ultimately unsuccessful.
The Red Cross formally suspended operations in al-Shabab areas of southern Somalia on Jan. 12. They are the only agency bringing in food to those famine-hit areas on such a large scale.
The U.N. said more than 13 million people were in need of aid and 750,000 at risk of starvation at the height of the Somali famine. Those at risk of starvation have subsequently dropped to 250,000 after an influx of aid and after seasonal rains arrived, meaning crops could be planted.
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Comments (51)
zoro51
Posted on January 31, 2012 at 6:23pmGod damn muslums they care not for any life hell will have a feast wiht theiur flesh for there is no allah thats a stone idol false god there is no heaven for muslums only hell they shall not escape judgement. For in thier day no one will have pitty nor mercy… Muslums are pure evil incarnate
Report Post »antrancher
Posted on January 31, 2012 at 3:10pmStarving people are easier to control. Same thing is happening in America. Wake up people. End dependency on the government!
Report Post »lukerw
Posted on January 31, 2012 at 1:22pmAlike Obama Policy… Control the FOOD; Control the PEOPLE!
Report Post »SgtB
Posted on January 31, 2012 at 1:57pmYour view of this seems rather shallow. The US gov‘t involvement in providing our surplus food that is kept at artificially high prices through gov’t regulations and price setting is one of the worst things that this nation has ever done. While sending starving people food seems like a great idea, it is not; and I’ll explain why.
For starters, when enough “free” food (remember, your tax dollars pay for it) is distributed to any population, it destroys the local food economy. In a region of the world where farming and livestock are still the most common and productive parts of the economy, this destroys not only the local food producing businesses and farms, but the food distribution markets and the gov’t crumbles. If that was all that happened, then there would be little cause to worry. However, nature hates a vacuum, and when the gov’t becomes for all intents and purposes ineffective, a militant group will generally form and will seize control of the food supply to manipulate it for their own purposes.
This cycle is well noted and there are charity organizations that seek to provide help without causing all of these deadly consequences. Such groups take the charitable donations and use it to buy crops from local businesses and farms pumping money into their local economy for reinvestment and growth which will avert future need for assistance while feeding those in need at the same time.
Report Post »SurhanSurhan
Posted on January 31, 2012 at 11:19amI wouldn’t be surprised of the food is spoiled. Red Cross admitted some of it was spoiled and they tried to serve it regardless of its condition. “The Red Cross previously said some trucks were stuck on bad roads for several weeks in the rainy season and the food aboard them was spoiled. That food – about 2,000 tons, according to al-Shabab – was publicly burned after the militia had taken photos of the moldy beans.”
There is no central government in Somalia. Warlords control the entire country. Red Cross could wipe out the entire country and no one would say a word. I hate to side with the terrorist on this, but they probably did the right thing this time. A broken clock is right sometimes during the day.
Report Post »Latter-Day-Soldier
Posted on February 2, 2012 at 4:26amThe Red-Cross “wiping out” the country, that’s rich
Report Post »So why doesn’t the Red Crescent step in and take over?
Zipit
Posted on January 31, 2012 at 11:12amAl-shabab islamists…… KILL THEM!
Report Post »pavepaws
Posted on January 31, 2012 at 5:28pmIf the A holes would quit fighting among themselves, they might be able over time to raise their country out of its impoverished state.
Report Post »AnAmerican111
Posted on January 31, 2012 at 9:46amHow about we just get rid of Somalia!
Report Post »Just a bunch of useless monkey’s running around.
AnAmerican111
Posted on January 31, 2012 at 9:45amPIGLAM is such a peaceful “religion”!…………
Report Post »Thevoice
Posted on January 31, 2012 at 9:11amNow you can see clearer with each day why it was so important for this country to have come together 9/12…Stayed focused and united ..We are still to this day lacking the leadership who has the courage to unite this nation and defeat to a complete victory the enemy which for close to forty years now has been slowly tearing us apart. We are still miss guided looking at economics and self gratification . and not focusing on what has caused the problem . We the people of the United States standing together saying enough. When you see our armies wave a white flag of surrender or stand and die for your misguided beliefs. Then destroy to victory all that stand in your way. This evil of Islam destroyed and wiped away as the Nazi’s is the only answer. Just have to gather the courage and determination to do it.
Report Post »GroundZero is Nuclear Demolition x3
Posted on January 31, 2012 at 8:50amAnother attempt at a joke, Blaze?
We are well aware AL-CIAda is nothing more than a farce created to perpetuate a NEVER ENDING WAR!!
Report Post »Walkabout
Posted on January 31, 2012 at 8:58amYou are sooooo correct The Muslim Brotherhood is a creation of the CIA. Don’t you know.
;\
Report Post »readytostand
Posted on January 31, 2012 at 9:55amReply to Groundzero! Yup Alqaeda is not real? And Islam is a peaceful religion? And Americans are not overtaxed ! And your leftists thought pattern is not warped either! Oops— what thought pattern? Go back in the basement and play your video games and finish your bowl of FROOOOT LOOOPS !
Report Post »tzion
Posted on January 31, 2012 at 10:29amSo I guess the US blew up its own embassies and the Coal right?
Report Post »SgtB
Posted on January 31, 2012 at 2:03pmTo those of you who cannot connect the dots and don’t see how decades of CIA involvement in the middle east providing training, cash, and picking leadership led to the creation of the terrorist “threats” that we face today, then you are blind. Now, I am not saying that someone in the CIA bombed any American property, but when you set in motion the events leading to the creation of an autonomous militant and religious zealot filled organization, you need to accept some of the blame.
Report Post »cyclops
Posted on January 31, 2012 at 8:35amNo more snoring on the job guys. Drink some black coffee and kick this bot out of here……..LOL!!!!!!
Report Post »Detroit paperboy
Posted on January 31, 2012 at 8:33amLet em starve… I no longer give a ratsass about anyone but us, screw the rest of the third world turds…… Now that i know the red cross is feeding muslims , i will never donate to them again…. I will buy cold beer with that money , and have one on them!!!
Report Post »smithclar3nc3
Posted on January 31, 2012 at 11:33amI couldn’t agree more we need to get our house in order before going to others.
Report Post »calisun
Posted on January 31, 2012 at 1:20pmThat is why Ron Paul is our choice in 2012
Report Post »silentme63
Posted on January 31, 2012 at 8:28amSatan is alive and well… where famine and misery strive he calls home. We fool ourselves resting in between for no rest will come.. The LORD is only GOOD all the time….
Report Post »Walkabout
Posted on January 31, 2012 at 8:22amWas the Red Cross purposely distributing spoiled food? This I do not believe.
Is it possible food spoiled en route or that was lax oversight?. Not bloody likely.
Al Shabab running out all competition, dovish or no? This I believe. Run out all NGOs that give food & health aid. Take over all food distribution.
Now you have another weapon besides brute force, the withholding of food And your power grows.
Report Post »readytostand
Posted on January 31, 2012 at 10:12amWalkabout – you are correct ! Thats how these evil bastards do it! Absolutely no care for another humans life. People are just to be used as pawns to manipulte power. Could this happen in America? Store up on necessities.! If the unions dont get there way they will shut down the trucking industries . Hence — No FOOD FOR YOU !!! Gonna get UGLY !!
Report Post »tzion
Posted on January 31, 2012 at 10:33amMy guess, the food wasn’t Halal so they deemed it inedible. Their willing to let people stare rather than have them eat Halal. Of course the real reason is that if people are suffering and you can blame the US, recruitment of lowly pawns goes up. Thus is the cycle of suffering and power.
Report Post »SgtB
Posted on January 31, 2012 at 2:09pmNever you mind the fact that food aid created dependency, destroyed local food markets, and corrupted whatever gov’t was already there. There is a right and a wrong way to help feed starving people. What the red cross was doing was the wrong way. The right way doesn’t create domestic dependency on a foreign market. It buys the goods needed from the local market and then supplies them to the needy. This way local providers benefit as well as the needy and the next year they won’t need help supplying their own people with food.
Report Post »Viper1
Posted on January 31, 2012 at 8:20amWe’ve had this discussion before and it resulted in BLACK HAWK DOWN. I feel sorry for those innocent people but how is that our responsibility? If we find out that there are Americans involved then I think we should make them comfortable right where they are! Don’t come back! Get our troops out of there, remove the Red Cross from the war zone and let these people decide for themselves if they are going to put up with this ****! We did in 1776!
Report Post »Walkabout
Posted on January 31, 2012 at 8:56amParachute George Clooney & others in there to help the famine victims.
Report Post »Walkabout
Posted on January 31, 2012 at 8:18amWho else posts with pretty pictures attached? Encinom!
Report Post »reginacubsfan
Posted on January 31, 2012 at 7:54amThis is the second time this crud has been on the Blaze that I’ve noticed. Expected a little more from you. I really hope if you’re going to censor comments, you’ll do a better job of keeping this stuff off of here.
Report Post »scrapadapolis
Posted on January 31, 2012 at 7:47amAmerica for americans..all others need noy apply.
Report Post »FreedomInData
Posted on January 31, 2012 at 7:46amHeres more news you will need to read AND pass along!pass along!
http://www.jihadwatch.org/
pass it along please!
Report Post »notreally
Posted on January 31, 2012 at 7:35amYou could distribute a million tons of food in that area of the world and only one thing would happen: they‘d have a billion more babies and there’d be twice the number of starving people. We could fix the problem but everytime we try the race-baiters scream “racists are trying to control us!”
Report Post »let us prey
Posted on January 31, 2012 at 7:34amYes, go to Somalia you can have a no strings attached bomb vest for your perverted behavior. Go away.
Report Post »SpankDaMonkey
Posted on January 31, 2012 at 7:14am.
STOP SENDING FOOD…….
Nothing grows over there anymore, so we can starve them out. Just think of it as Going Green. I mean fewer humans farting means less Global Warming over there. And it is damn hot in Africa…..
Report Post »LouC57
Posted on January 31, 2012 at 7:19amI never want to see a starving African child with a buzzard sitting next to him again. Ever.
But a few good drones at just the right time might be a great idea.
Report Post »SurhanSurhan
Posted on January 31, 2012 at 11:48am@ LOUC57- “I never want to see a starving African child with a buzzard sitting next to him again. Ever. But a few good drones at just the right time might be a great idea.”
Report Post »*******************
Wow, you want to kill babies with drones! You’re a terrorist too.
tzion
Posted on January 31, 2012 at 12:18pmUm Surhan, where did he say “let’s kill babies”? Did I miss that? All he said was a well placed surgical strike could be helpful.
Report Post »SgtB
Posted on January 31, 2012 at 2:13pm@ TZION, WOW! What can’t you rationalize? How is bombing a foreign nation because they reject foreign aid a sane decision? And how do you say that bombing people isn’t killing them? I’ll bet $100 that you are a neocon and don’t plan to vote for Ron Paul. I pity ignorant people like yourself.
Report Post »Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on January 31, 2012 at 6:53amWhat this comes down to is that the Al Queda linked group will use the lack of food to draw the people over to their side – they control the food and thus you do as they say or starve; at the same time it will be used as propaganda to demonize the West as a great evil responsible for the suffering of the people and claim the only salvation can be found in adopting radical Islamist ways.
Report Post »mike_trivisonno
Posted on January 31, 2012 at 7:02amThere are no “islamists”.
Al Queada and other groups are phony entities thrown in the face of non-muslims in large numbers in an effort to conceal what is really on single global Jihad attack spanning the entire planet.
There are muslims and non-muslims. There is no radical form of Islam practiced by only a few “radicalized Islamists”, there is only Islam.
Islam, muslims, Jihad.
Every deception must be torn from the clawing, grasping hands of the muslims and their goal expressed with brutal honesty.
Enemies domestic; muslims engaged in Jihad.
Report Post »rose-ellen
Posted on January 31, 2012 at 9:55amIt has been the americans controlling the food; by making it illigal to deal with al shabab the west has written off the people of south somalia-allowing them to starve to death to satisfy american legislatures who have made it a crime to do business with terrorists.That is why reports on the famine have been confind to north somalia .periodically the media puts out a piece to demonize al shabab so the masses will not protest that we are allowing the south to starve.They twist the story around or deflect from the reality that we have chosen to allow the south to starve to prove our point that we are tough on terrorists.It is us using food as a weapon-not them.
Report Post »tzion
Posted on January 31, 2012 at 10:39am@Rose thorn
Report Post »Your argument would only make sense i the US threatened to cut off food because the people didn’t act a certain way. We don‘t give food the Al Qaeda groups because we know they won’t distribute it properly. This event proves that. They had the food we sent and they destroyed it because there wouldn’t have been enough scarcity for them to control people. Food would actually be available to everyone and they, Al Qaeda, would become unimportant.
mike_trivisonno
Posted on January 31, 2012 at 6:51amThe only thing we should be doing in Somalia is killing every muslim in sight, period.
Report Post »DonaldH
Posted on January 31, 2012 at 7:19am(”Kill them all; for the Lord knoweth them that are His”)
Report Post »rose-ellen
Posted on January 31, 2012 at 4:52pmwe already have cut off food by prohibiting deals with alshabab-that is why southerners fled to the north which is not controlled by al shabab.if only rotten food is reaching the south it is because WE have impeded the transport of food as it involves deals with shabab. NGO’s have to surrepticiously get around offending the american legislatures or they will be prosecuted.hence only rotten food gets to the sourth.We are in fact using food as a weapon and allowing men women and children to starve en masse to prove a point that we don’t do business with terrorists. America is controling the world and is now engaged in stalin like mass starvation of people.One day the truth will out.
Report Post »SIGNOFTHETIMES
Posted on January 31, 2012 at 6:37amOne of the faces of EVIL in our world. Islam, A peaceful Religion, NOT. They would kill thousands just to get one Christian or Jew. Add Jihad Watch on your home page.
Report Post »RightUnite
Posted on January 31, 2012 at 6:26amThat’s not totally a bad thing… I mean, how many people will be saved by not being in the area and being killed? Those pigs will eliminate anything they view as not being Islamist.
Report Post »decendentof56
Posted on January 31, 2012 at 6:39amI agree…….You can’t save everyone. Let Somalian’s see what the Muslims are about. The truth will work against radical Muslims.
Report Post »mike_trivisonno
Posted on January 31, 2012 at 6:56amSomalia and East Africa have suffered under Jihad attacks by the Arab muslims for centuries.
What we are seeing is the flower of Islam opening. After centuries of jihad attacks Somalians generally believe they are muslims.
The Source of the Jihad on Somalia: Saudi Arabia, center of the Jihad for Planet Earth.
Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia did this Somalia through Jihad, in the way of their warlord prophet, Mohammed, and in praise of their god, Allah, who resides not in Mecca.
Destroy and occupy Mecca, re-colonize muslim lands with Westerners. Spread and advance our Civlization at the expense of Islamic Civilization at every opportunity.
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