The Federal Government of Somalia (FGS) is facing yet one more scandal after news broke out that its officials had misused $2.6 million that had been set aside to mitigate the effects of the Beledweyne floods.
In 2019, River Shabelle’s banks broke thus causing heavy flooding in the Hiran region. The floods, which were labeled worst in the country for years, left more than 60,000 displaced while killing dozens more.
Consequently, the international community donated tons of money to help mitigate the effects of the floods. China’s donation of $1.5 million was one of the largest. Djibouti, one of Somalia’s neighbors, donated $600,000 to help the Horn of Africa nation too.
FGS also sent its donation of $500,000 towards the same cause. However, reports now indicate that the government has never released the money to help the flood victims seven months after receiving monetary donations.
The news comes as a shock considering that the floods destroyed people’s livelihoods too.
According to Haji Osman Dhagahow, who heads the Floods Rescue Committee of Beledweyne, said that the only donation they have received from the federal government was 600 sandbags, which arrived recently.