WFP accuses Houthis of diverting relief supplies to non-beneficiaries
The World Food Program (WFP) has accused the Houthis
of diverting relief supplies to non-beneficiaries, calling for investigation
and dismissing those involved, WAM reported Friday.
In a statement, Herve Verhoosel, WFP spokesman in
Geneva, said, "So far, our monitoring has identified seven centres in
Sana’a city and we estimate that about 1,200 metric tonnes (600 MT/month) of
food was diverted in August and September. But to put this into context, 600
metric tonnes is only about one per cent of the food we provide on a monthly
basis nationally."
He added, "It is our monitoring systems that
detected there was a problem. We are committed to ensuring our food assistance
reaches those who most need it."
The UN official went on to say, "About three
months ago when we witnessed food being sold in bulk on Yemeni markets (i.e.
oil in cartons of 6 and pulses in bags of 50 kg whereas oil is normally
distributed as a can and pulses in plastic bags of 10 kg), we suspected that
food was being diverted by a partner organization from distribution points.
