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Ethiopian Militias selling Humanitarian Food
Rations |
Aug 03,
2008 Ethiopian militias in the towns of
Dhuxun, Iimey, and Garbo have reportedly
started selling humanitarian food rations
that they have stockpiled. The food rations
are said to have been brought by the
non-governmental organizations for the
civilians affected by the drought that has
severely impacted the local nomadic
population.
Eyewitnesses on the ground reported that the
Ethiopian militias have created a pseudo
distribution system where every one hundred
civilians are given only eight sacks of
maize. It is said that the idea is to
present a picture where these militias could
claim that they have distributed the food
rations when in fact, they have commissioned
local middlemen in selling most of the food
rations to the highest bidders.
It is reported that each sack of maize is
sold for about 300 to 400 Ethiopian Birrs.
The militias introduced also a barter system
where anyone with no money to afford buying
the maize could volunteer to become part of
the local militias recruited by the
Ethiopians. Up to 40 youth are said to have
been recruited and taken to unknown
destinations.
In related news, the Ethiopian militias are
said to have increased the pace of civilian
detentions. Anyone whose relatives are
suspected to be members of the Ogaden
National Liberation Front (ONLF)
--Ogaden Online News |
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