Tuesday May 27, 2025
Mogadishu (HOL) — Somalia's national disaster agency has rejected accusations that it delivered expired drugs to a remote district in central Hiiraan following a viral video that drew widespread criticism and fueled suspicions over aid quality.
In a statement released Monday, the Somali Disaster Management Agency (SoDMA) said the video — widely shared on Somali social media — falsely suggested the agency had supplied Moqokori with unusable medication and leftover COVID-19 gear. The footage triggered a public backlash, prompting the agency to issue a firm denial on Monday.
"The medicines we delivered and those shown in the video have nothing to do with each other," a SoDMA spokesperson said. "Whoever released that video is responsible for their own actions. The medicines we delivered were high-quality emergency supplies meant for trauma, mothers, and children. The shipment totalled one ton."
SoDMA officials, along with counterparts from Hirshabelle's regional disaster ministry, visited Moqokori on May 24 as part of a dual-purpose mission: to deliver urgent medical aid and assess the town's worsening humanitarian conditions.
According to the agency's field report, the team used two federal helicopters to transport one ton of pharmaceuticals. Aviation fuel constraints meant only half of each aircraft's cargo capacity could be used for aid and personnel. Still, 28 types of medicine were delivered, including amoxicillin, dexamethasone, oral rehydration salts, and multivitamin syrups.
The report also noted that any items not listed in the official manifest should not be attributed to SoDMA.
The agency's internal report from the mission also identified worsening humanitarian conditions in Moqokori, including the imminent failure of the town's only water well, which has served residents for over 50 years, and the collapse of its only health center due to a lack of funding and supplies.
"These are not merely logistical gaps," a SoDMA official said. "They are symptoms of prolonged neglect."
However, the delivery sparked political blowback. On May 25, the Hirshabelle Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs announced it was suspending cooperation with SoDMA, citing what it called "chronic miscommunication, aid misappropriation, and a lack of operational transparency." The statement directly criticized SoDMA Chairman Mohamud Moallim.
Hiiraan Governor Muse Salad Wehliye, who attended the aid handover alongside federal lawmakers and local officials, was also critical of the delivery. "The people here cannot be expected to accept just a few boxes of medicine and applaud," he said. "That's not acceptable."
Dr. Abdullahi Muse Ahmed, SoDMA's Director of Health Services, defended the visit by stating that the aid drop was never intended to be a full-scale supply operation.
"We were there to assess the humanitarian and health situation on the ground, to understand the services available and what the community needs," Dr. Abdullahi told the BBC. "The aircraft could only carry two tons. Half of that was for fuel, and the rest had to be split between passengers and aid. The supplies we brought could support the local population for up to three months. Claims that the aid was too small are baseless and politically motivated."
The fallout has revived long-standing tensions between Somalia's federal government and its member states over the management of humanitarian operations.
SoDMA said it plans to expand its response in Moqokori and cautioned that misinformation and political friction could jeopardize future relief efforts.
"This is not the time to politicize humanitarian work," a spokesperson said. "We call on all parties to come together in the interest of the people who need help most."