Somalia's Extremist Al Shabaab Force U.N. To Halt Food Aid Over Threats

People are starving in Somalia and thanks to the Islamic extremist group al-Shabaab, those living in the south, where al-Shabaab rules, they will continue to do so. There have been aid organizations trying to get food to the people, including the U.N.'s World Food Programme, but the militants have made it so difficult for the NGOs to operate there, they are moving out, leaving many to potentially starve to death, all because of their religious excesses. The latest group to pull out is the UN.

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"Rising threats and attacks on humanitarian operations, as well as the imposition of a string of unacceptable demands from armed groups, have made it virtually impossible for the World Food Programme (WFP) to continue reaching up to one million people in need in southern Somalia," the WFP said in a statement.

Al Shabaab has also banned other aid organizations, claiming they are "enemies of Islam". So rather than save their people from imminent death through starvation, they'd rather sacrifice them for some twisted, religious ideological reason.

Militants of the Al Shabaab group, which controls most of Somalia with allied Islamist groups, have earlier banned the UN Development Programme, the Department of Safety and Security and the UN Political Office for Somalia from working in the country, accusing them of being "enemies of Islam and Muslim people" and of supporting "the government of traitors" and its troops.

One would think that Aid organizations would be off limits, since they are in countries to help the people, but I guess that concept is beyond their mental capabilities. With all their demands, they are in essence pushing organizations out of being of service to the people who need it most.

Late last year, the Shebab administration in the south-central regions of Bay and Bakool handed aid groups a list of 11 rules to comply with, including a registration fee of 20,000 dollars, payable twice a year.

Drawing fresh comparisons with Afghanistan under the Taliban in 1996 to 2001, the Shebab also imposed conditions complying with the strict brand of Islamic law they enforce in the regions under their control.

Aid organizations "should distance [themselves] from anything that will affect proper Islamic culture... like promoting adultery and establishing women's groups," said a document spelling out the rules obtained by AFP.

These organizations are doing Somalia a favour, they have no right to make demands. You don't bite the hand that feeds you. And even though Somalia is considered to be in the direst straits, in terms of humanitarian crisis worldwide, Al Shabaab is in denial. The U.N. statement went on to say:

"WFP is deeply concerned about rising hunger and suffering among the most vulnerable due to these unprecedented and inhumane attacks on purely humanitarian operations."

And yet leaders of the militant group deny there are any problems or "insecurity" in Shabaab controlled regions. Which is obviously a flat out lie. Somalia is apparently unable to feed a large portion of its population, according to the World Food Programme.

"Even in good years, Somalia is only able to meet 40% of the food needs of its population through internal production. In the last five years, local production has averaged only about 30% of food needs," the WFP said.

But thankfully, they are continuing to supply food aid to the rest of Somalia, including Mogadishu, the capital.

Deluded as most religious fanatics are, Sheikh Ali Muhamud Rage, Shabaab spokesperson, claimed the following:

"Our people never rely on foreign aid as they claim, Allah assists them, they have their farms."

And yet, they are starving to death- I guess that means that Allah must want them dead? Because if they can only provide 30% of the people's food needs, 60% are destined to die of hunger. Way to go, Al Shabaab!