President Mwai Kibaki has urged the World Food Programme (WFP) to reconsider its decision to suspend food relief distribution to Somalia.
Kibaki noted that continued denial of relief food to Somalia was exerting more pressure on Kenya which is already hosting thousands of refugees.
The UN agency announced on Tuesday it had suspended food aid to southern parts of the war-torn country following rising threats and attacks on humanitarian operations by Al-Shabaab making it impossible for the aid agency to reach one million people in southern parts of Somalia.
WFP claimed the Islamist group was imposing strings of unacceptable demands among them demanding payments to be able to operate in the country.
Kibaki made the remarks in Nairobi when he met and held discussions with the Country Director of the World Food Programme Burkard Oberle and WFP goodwill Ambassador Her Royal Highness (HRH) Princess Haya Bint Al-Hussien of Dubai.
Kibaki expressed the government’s appreciation to the World Food Programme and other relief agencies for the commendable humanitarian work undertaken in the country and the region over the years.
He at the same time appealed to the UN body to consider extending assistance to the flood victims in the country.
The floods have claimed over 20 lives and displaced thousands in the past two weeks.
Meteorologists have blamed the unusual heavy rains on El Nino.
Source African Press Agency
