Terror group al-Shabaab distributes food aid in Somalia

The Al-Qaida linked terrorist group al-Shabaab has accused international aid agencies of being ineffective and is reportedly distributing food aid in drought-stricken parts of Somalia.

In March, the terror group, which is known for amputating and executing people, has released photographs showing its members distributing food relief to alleged residents of Lower Shabelle in southern Somalia.

According to media reports, al-Shabaab has created drought committees for food distributions in six regions under its control. Its members have also dug up water canals for farmers, Religion News Service reported.

Fears of impending famine are growing in the country that is still struggling to recover from more than 25 years of civil war and an ongoing battle between the U.N.-backed government and Islamist insurgents.

Aid groups have said that as many as a quarter of a million people died during the last famine in 2011 after al-Shabaab imposed restrictions on movement and refused to grant aid organizations access to drought-stricken areas.

Sheikh Suldan Aala Mohamed, the chairman of al-Shabaab's drought emergency committee, said that this time, people are allowed to move freely. "We do not stop those who want to leave for other places, they are free," he said.

Mohamed noted that al-Shabaab has already distributed food and water to many Somalis who were hit by the drought, but some residents are still skeptical about the militants' ability to provide enough aid.

"Al Shabaab gave us water and food and we have seen them taking food and water to others in the area, but the needs of the entire people cannot be met," said Abdullahi Mohamed, a resident of Hindheer district in the central Galgadud region.

"Some people are in the jungle where there are no roads. Some are dying under trees," he added.

According to the U.N., about 6.2 million people in Somalia are in urgent need of humanitarian aid. The U.N. and the African Union are considering talks with al-Shabaab as it controls the areas that are most affected by the drought.

Roman Catholic Bishop Giorgio Bertin, the apostolic administrator of Mogadishu, said he agrees that some form of contact should be established with the terror group. "We must try all things to bring stability to Somalia," he stated.

During the drought in 2011, the U.N. accused al-Shabaab of sabotaging the distribution of aid after the group allegedly attacked convoys, burned food and killed some aid workers.

It is believed that the group is getting the aid from its network of sponsors and sympathizers, but there is also speculation that it is raiding food relief convoys of humanitarian groups.