Saturday 30,Nov,2024 {HMC} The World Food Program (WFP) has taken the extraordinary step of suspending all humanitarian operations in Somalia’s SSC-Khaatumo region, citing escalating insecurity and looting of food aid intended for the region’s most vulnerable populations.
The move comes after two large-scale looting incidents this month that have disrupted the delivery of critical food supplies. On November 24, approximately 45 metric tons of food aid were stolen in the Buhodle district, followed by an additional 50 metric tons looted just three days later. The decision leaves over 51,900 people without assistance in one of Somalia’s most vulnerable regions.
The stolen supplies were intended for 8,655 households, including malnourished children, pregnant and breastfeeding mothers, and displaced families. The aid had been distributed through local NGO partners GHADO, the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), and ALIGHT, operating in Las Anod, Taleh, and Buhodle.
In a letter to Puntland’s Vice President Ilyas Osman Lugatoor, WFP Somalia Country Director El-Khidir Daloum described the decision as “difficult but necessary.” Daloum cited the recent looting of aid as the tipping point for the suspension.
“These incidents of looting make it impossible for us to operate safely and effectively,” Daloum stated, calling for urgent action from local authorities to restore security and protect humanitarian workers.
Former Puntland Minister of Planning Mohamed S. Farole, in a statement on Twitter, advised Puntland Vice President Ilyas Osman Lugatoor to urge WFP to establish an area office in Las Anod and engage directly with SSC-Khaatumo authorities. “Aid has been politicized in SSC for three decades, and it’s time to stop,” Farole wrote, adding, “SSC territories are much safer than most of the places where the WFP works in Somalia.”
SSC-Khaatumo, encompassing three districts in northern Somalia, has long been a hotspot for political and clan tensions, with its recognition by Somalia’s federal government in October 2023 marking a turning point in its regional status.
However, the area continues to experience periodic clashes between SSC-Khaatumo forces and Somaliland troops, leading to instability. In November 2024, intense fighting near Qorilugud resulted in numerous casualties and further displacement of civilians.
The WFP suspension is another blow to the region, which relies heavily on international aid to address chronic hunger and malnutrition.
The broader humanitarian crisis in Somalia remains dire, with over 6.6 million people facing acute food insecurity due to conflict, climate shocks, and displacement. The looting of aid supplies disrupts relief efforts and exacerbates the suffering of vulnerable populations.
WFP has called on local authorities to prioritize security measures.”Without a secure environment, the most vulnerable communities will suffer the consequences,” Daloum wrote.
Source Hiiraan online
