WFP Condemns Ration Card Scam In Bossaso

Individuals posing as WFP employees have been arrested by the authorities in Bossaso for selling fake ration cards to internally displaced people (IDPs) in one of the camps, claiming that these cards entitle the holders to receive food from WFP.  These individuals do not represent WFP, the cards are not genuine, and payment is never required to access WFP assistance programmes.

“We would like to remind the public at large that as a humanitarian organization WFP’s assistance will always be free of charge, and we condemn those who seek to profit from the plight of vulnerable people,” said Laurent Bukera, the WFP representative for Somalia.

WFP urges the public to report fraudulent activities being perpetrated in its name to the authorities, and to WFP using its beneficiary hotline numbers: +252-617140164 (Hormud), +252 -907053722 (Golis), +252-678999014 (Nationlink), +252627795373 (SomTel).

The work of WFP in Somalia aims to address basic food and nutrition needs, strengthen coping mechanisms and improve food security of vulnerable Somalis so they can cope more effectively with hardships. The agency also provides specialized nutritional support to malnourished mothers and young children.

WFP’s programmes include relief assistance, which is provided during emergencies, as well as activities designed to strengthen the resilience of households against future shocks such as droughts and floods.

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WFP is the world's largest humanitarian agency fighting hunger worldwide, delivering food in emergencies and working with communities to build resilience. In 2013, WFP assisted more than 80 million people in 75 countries.

Follow us on Twitter @wfpsomalia and @wfp_africa

For more information please contact (email address: firstname.lastname@wfp.org):

Laila Ali, WFP/Somalia (Nairobi), Mob. +254734554040

Amanda Lawrence Brown, WFP/Nairobi, Mob. +254707722105

Challiss McDonough, WFP/Nairobi, Mob. +254707722104