US to support relief work as situation worsens

The US said it would support relief work in areas of Somalia held by the Al-Qaeda-linked Shebab, easing restrictions as despair grows over a famine that has killed thousands.

US officials said they were maintaining sanctions against the militia, which controls some of the worst-hit parts of southern Somalia, but would fund reputable groups that take the risk to bring food into Shebab territory.

State Department spokesman Mark Toner said US agencies were now “authorised to provide grants and contracts” to such non-governmental groups, which would not face prosecution if relief efforts “accidentally benefit” the Shebab.

The US imposed sanctions on the Shebab in 2008 that make it a crime to provide any support to the militia, which has emerged as a major force in a country that has lacked a functioning government for two decades.

US officials said the sanctions were never intended to affect aid groups, but that Washington wanted to send a signal that relief workers should not fear legal repercussions for bringing food where it is most needed.

White House spokesman Jay Carney said the US – which has devoted more than $450 million to relief in the Horn of Africa this financial year – was “absolutely committed to assisting the people of Somalia”.

Mr Carney said the US was offering “the assurance to these aid workers that they can get that aid to the people who need it and not worry that they’re operating in conflict with US laws and regulations”.

The Shebab expelled foreign aid groups two years ago, accusing them of being Western spies and Christian crusaders. The group has recently given mixed signals on whether the ban is in effect; some relief workers have said the militia has tried to impose a “tax” on food delivery.

Humanitarian groups have called the famine in the Horn of Africa the worst in six decades, brought on by severe drought – likely linked to climate change – and the virtual absence of any governance in Somalia.