On Aug. 2, the State Department announced that U.S. humanitarian groups that provide famine aid to civilians living in areas of Somalia controlled by al-Shabab, will not be prosecuted for violating U.S. law if they act in good faith to reach victims of the famine. Read more….
Sen. Patrick Leahy’s Aug. 3 press release regarding humanitarian relief in Somalia:
“The current law is so broad as to be unworkable. Aid workers trying to provide relief to starving Somalis fear they could be prosecuted if some of it were to end up in the hands of al-Shabab…The Secretary of State has the power to grant exemptions where the purpose is not to engage in terrorist activity. She should use that authority immediately to ensure aid can reach as many Somalis as possible.”