FOOD AID TO SOMALIA

Early day motion 546, tabled 6 January 2010 by Harry Cohen (Labour). Signed by 30 members.

That this House expresses alarm at the suspension of the UN World Food Programme to Somalia following threats and attempted extortion by al-Shabaab militia extremists; notes that this could result in up to one million people facing starvation; considers this, the never-ending conflict and the strengthening of al-Qaeda groups in Somalia, to be the diabolical consequence of the misjudged US toppling of an Islamic government, which the world could have worked with, by the sponsoring of an Ethiopian invasion in December 2006; now considers that the best way to get vitally-needed food into the country is by an urgent, massive increased commitment of African Union troops for this purpose, but that this needs to be organised and fully funded by the international community, particularly Western governments; and calls on the Government to make this a high priority.

Signatures by party: Labour 22, Liberal Democrat 3, Social Democratic and Labour Party 2, Conservative 1, DUP 1, UUP 1.