The European Union (EU) has temporarily suspended its funding for the World Food Program (WFP) in Somalia following a United Nations investigation that revealed widespread theft and misuse of aid meant to prevent famine.
Last year, the European Commission allocated over seven million dollars to WFP operations in Somalia. This is only a fraction of the total donations received, with UN data suggesting donations surpassing a billion dollars. In addition to the EU’s centralized funding, individual EU member countries have generously donated much more, although it remains unclear if they will similarly suspend their aid.
Balazs Ojevari, the spokesperson for the Commission, neither fully confirmed nor denied the suspension. However, he mentioned, “As of now, the EU hasn’t been informed by its UN partners about the financial impact on the funded projects.” Ojevari added, “Nevertheless, we will continue to monitor the situation closely and remain steadfast in our zero-tolerance approach to fraud, corruption, or misconduct.”
So far, the WFP has not commented on the suspension requests.
A senior EU official, speaking on condition of anonymity, mentioned that the decision was taken after the UN investigation found that landowners, local authorities, security forces, and humanitarian workers were all involved in the theft of aid intended for vulnerable groups. He indicated that the aid would be resumed once the WFP meets additional conditions, including stricter vetting of partners on the ground in Somalia. Another high-ranking EU official confirmed this stance.
A third EU source, while acknowledging active cooperation with the WFP to address systemic deficiencies, insisted that no aid has been suspended at this stage.
The confidential report, dated 7th July, was commissioned by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, a copy of which was reviewed by Reuters. International development media outlet Devex first reported its contents. The report cited internally displaced persons within the country who claimed they were forced to give up to half of their received cash assistance to individuals in positions of power, facing threats of eviction, arrest, or de-registration from beneficiary lists.
This recent revelation highlights the complexities and challenges of international aid distribution in conflict-prone and unstable regions, underscoring the imperative need for enhanced oversight mechanisms to ensure aid reaches its intended recipients.
Three months ago, the World Food Program and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) suspended food aid to neighboring Ethiopia due to reported diversions of donations.
The Commission contributes ten million euros ($10.69 million) to Somalia and Ethiopia through the World Food Program. A senior official in the European Union stated that the suspension is a part of this contribution.
The United States is by far the largest donor of humanitarian aid to Somalia. Last year, it contributed more than half of the $2.2 billion directed towards humanitarian response efforts there.
Jessica Jennings, a spokesperson for USAID, mentioned in a statement that the United States is actively seeking to understand the extent of this diversion and is “already taking steps to protect the beneficiaries and ensure that taxpayers’ money is used as intended for vulnerable groups in Somalia.”
An official from the agency, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, stated that the situations in Ethiopia and Somalia are different and that there are no plans to halt food aid in Somalia.
The Somali Disaster Management Office, which coordinates government humanitarian response efforts, said in a statement on Monday that the Somali authorities are committed to investigating the findings of the UN report. However, they pointed out that the current aid delivery systems operate “outside government channels.”
Guterres’ office has not yet responded to requests for comments.
Systematic and Widespread
Donors increased their funding to Somalia last year amidst warnings from humanitarian officials about an impending famine due to the most severe drought the Horn of Africa has seen in decades.
Official data suggests that the famine was averted. However, researchers estimate that up to 43,000 people, half of them children under five, died last year due to the drought.
The UN report did not attempt to specify the amount of aid that was diverted, but its findings “indicate that the diversion of aid after its delivery in Somalia is common and systematic.”
The report stated that investigators gathered data from 55 internally displaced persons’ sites in Somalia and found evidence of aid diversion in all of them. Around 3.8 million people are displaced in Somalia, one of the highest rates globally.
Aid distribution has been a problem in Somalia for decades, exacerbated by weak government institutions and significant security lapses due to an insurgency led by militant Islamists and the marginalization of minority clans.
Since the revelation of aid theft during the 2011 famine, humanitarian agencies have shifted most of their aid to cash transfers, which some officials consider less susceptible to corruption.
