Originally published by the Voice of America (www.voanews.com).
Voice of America is funded by the US Federal Government and content it
exclusively produces is in the public domain.
July 18, 2008

WFP:  Insecurity Hampers Food Aid in Somalia 
----------------------------------------------

http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=1D4BDEB:A6F02AD83191E16056424C6FA48601FF7F0EB4B66EA3A89D&
 
UN food agency director says country is at dire crossroads 
The United Nations food agency says attacks on aid workers in Somalia
are threatening the lives of millions of starving people in the
country. The World Food Program (WFP) says the deteriorating
security situation in Somalia is hindering both land and sea deliveries
of food. The agency appealed to foreign governments Friday to
continue to provide naval escorts to protect WFP food ships against
piracy. This week, another WFP contract worker was killed
delivering food for the agency. Officials say the victim was the fifth
WFP-contracted transport worker to be killed this year.The WFP's country
director for Somalia said Friday the country is at a dire crossroads.
The
agency says it provides food assistance to one million Somalis each
month, but expects the number to more than double by December to 2.4
million.Somalia has not had a fully functioning
central government since 1991. Fighting in recent years between
Islamist insurgents and the Ethiopian-backed interim government has
killed thousands of people and displaced more than one million. 

Some information for this report was provided by AFP.


.