A United Nations report says up to half the food aid in Somalia is routinely diverted to corrupt contractors, Islamist workers and local UN workers.
The report, by the UN monitoring group in Somalia, strongly criticises the UN's own World Food Programme and recommends an independent inquiry, the BBC reports.
It says World Food Programme (WFP) contracts for food transport are awarded to a few powerful individuals who operate cartels that sell the food illegally. Some local United Nations workers take a cut of the profits.
The report blames the problem on the food distribution system in the war-torn country.
WFP, which provides most of the relief goods, says previous internal investigations have failed to find proof of widespread abuse, but it will examine the new allegations.
The report hasn't been made public yet, but its contents have been leaked to the media.
