UNICEF is feeling the crunch for taking over the World Food Program’s role in Somalia two months ago, with food supplies, transportation and security costs doubling to consume a fifth of the fund’s total budget for the country.
Hannan Sulieman, UNICEF deputy representative to Somalia, told Reuters in London that supplying food to refugees in the war-torn country has become slower and more expensive as the escalating violence allowed them to bring supplies only as far as the country’s ports.
WFP pulled out of Somalia in January after its staff received threats from rebels and payment demands for security. UNICEF has since taken over the food supply role as well as a feeding program that aimed to prevent malnutrition among conflict-affected children.