UN aid chief in Somalia slams report alleging half of Somali food aid diverted from hungry

UN official slams report on Somalia food diversion

GENEVA — The U.N.’s aid chief in Somalia says a recent report alleging widespread corruption in Somali food deliveries lacks evidence and is endangering lifesaving assistance to the impoverished African country.

In a letter obtained Thursday by AP, Mark Bowden criticizes the “sensational” claim by a panel of experts that up to half the food aid for Somalia’s hungry people was being diverted to cartels and other unintended targets.

He said the allegation is based on hearsay. He didn’t provide his own estimate.

Findings of the report were first made public by The New York Times on March 9.

Bowden said the bad publicity has made it harder for aid workers dealing with increased malnutrition in Somalia. Some 3.7 million people there need aid.