MOGADISHU, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- Somalia confirmed on Tuesday it has returned all World Food Program (WFP) aid commodities seized from a warehouse early this year during a port expansion and also accepted responsibility for the incident.
"The government takes responsibility for the incident, expresses its regret, and has provided WFP with a larger and more suitable warehouse within Mogadishu Port to ensure secure and uninterrupted humanitarian operations", the ministry said in a statement issued in Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia.
The WFP warehouse at the Mogadishu seaport was partially demolished by local authorities in early January, leading to allegations of looting and the seizure of 76 metric tonnes of food aid.
The ministry said the government remains committed to humanitarian principles, transparency, and accountability, and values its close partnership with the WFP and the donor community.
"Steps will be taken to strengthen coordination and communication to prevent similar issues in the future and ensure continued support for the Somali people," the ministry said.
The ministry acknowledged that there were gaps in coordination and information sharing between Somali authorities and humanitarian agencies operating at the port. It also promised to review the circumstances surrounding the incident in order to introduce measures aimed at averting similar situations in the future.
