Rumble: Food Aid to Somalia

Millions of people have been affected by the recent conflicts in Somalia. Food aid -and relief aid in general- has been hampered by many operational challenges (see also earlier posts). On several occasions, vessels carrying aid were attacked or hijacked by pirates off the coast (earlier BBC report).
As of November, aid vessels are escorted by French war ships. Reaching Somalia is one challenge. Offloading is another, as there are often no ports or ports are not usable. The vessels carrying relief items have to anchor a mile off the coast and transfer their relief cargo onto smaller boats. These are then offloaded by labourers and stacked on the beach. Another crew loads the food onto trucks which transport everything to secure warehouses, before the goods are distributed to the effected population. Not once, but every day.... (Full AP News story)

An example of the logistic challenge we are facing in the field. Here are some pictures we received recently. (Full set)

Pictures courtesy WFP
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