Indirect Greenhouse Gases Make up 12% of Global Warming: The Impacts of Carbon Monoxide, Non-Methane VOCs, Nitrogen Oxides, and Hydrogen

     The 1997 Kyoto Protocol set up reporting requirements for seven ‘direct’ greenhouse gases, with significant global warming potentials (GWPs). These are listed below.

     Six of the seven of the gases, the ones aside from CO2, have much higher GWPs than CO2, which is the standard by which they are measured.

     Recently, a group of scientists argued that indirect greenhouse gases (iGHGs), which are responsible for 12% of global warming, merit more attention. These gases are not addressed under any climate treaty.

     Mediafeed reports:

“Carbon monoxide, non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOCs), nitrogen oxides and hydrogen are considered indirect greenhouse gases, because they do not absorb heat themselves, but they cause reactions in the atmosphere that affect the climate,” says Tianyi Sun, a senior climate scientist at Environmental Defense Fund, a global nonprofit.

“In a recent paper in the journal Science, Sun, EDF Chief Scientist Steven Hamburg and eight other climate experts argue that it’s time to include indirect greenhouse gases in the international agreements that shape what types of climate pollution countries measure, target and reduce.”

     Indirect greenhouse gases do cause global warming directly, but do so indirectly through chemical reactions in the atmosphere. Most iGHGs come from burning fossil fuels and from industrial processes like chemical manufacturing. Emissions of them come from many sectors.

“Thirty years ago, our understanding of indirect greenhouse gases was in its early stages,” explains Sun. “Now, our understanding has matured, but the policy hasn’t caught up.”

     The IPCC is developing technical guidance for countries on how to include a wider range of climate pollutants in their national inventories in its next report, scheduled to be published in 2027. I wonder how this will affect trajectories. Have we been underestimating total greenhouse gas emissions by as much as 12% by not accounting for iGHGs? While the article suggests 15%, the abstract of the paper in Science notes that iGHGs make up 80% of the unaccounted 15% of global warming. That makes them potentially responsible for as much as 12% of global warming in future assessments.

     The authors of the paper note that addressing three of these indirect GHGs, carbon monoxide, VOCs, and nitrogen oxides, also addresses them as concerning pollutants and/or precursors to ground-level ozone.  

“Even though monitoring and enforcement of these pollutants isn’t uniform and needs to be scaled up across the world to deliver maximum results, existing management programs give policymakers a head start, says Sun.

     The table below shows the GWPs of the four iGHGs as well as their global temperature change potential (GTP).

 

References:

 

The forgotten 15% of global warming pollution. Anne Marie Borrego. Mediafeed. August 8, 2026. The forgotten 15% of global warming pollution

Integrating indirect greenhouse gases into climate frameworks: These substances have minimal direct climate effects but trigger chemical reactions that can lead to warming. Ilissa Ocko, Jean-Francois Lamarque, Jonathan M. Moch, Sam Abernethy, Tianyi Sun, Tom Grylls, Arindam Roy, Steven P. Hamburg, Rick Duke, and Philip B. Duffy. Science.11 Jun 2026. Vol 392, Issue 6803. pp. 1134-1137. Integrating indirect greenhouse gases into climate frameworks | Science

Kyoto Protocol Gases. Green Calculus. August 2026. The 7 Kyoto Protocol Gases: The GHGs You Must Report

Recyclable, Compact Zinc-Ion Supercapacitor Used in Lightweight Energy Storage Reduces E-Waste

     New research published in ACS Energy Letters reports on the successful chemical recycling of compact zinc-ion supercapacitors used for lightweight energy storage. The researchers were able to quickly disassemble the supercapacitor into reusable components. The devices were used to power a glider's propeller, and after disassembly, parts were reused in two new ones that performed as well as the original device. The device “used zinc ions in a water-based, nonflammable electrolyte, dissolvable adhesives and reusable electrically conductive materials.”

     The energy storage device may be applicable to lightweight energy storage uses such as in phones, smart watches, and some drones. Its recyclability means it will produce less e-waste.

     Tech Xplore reports:

"We built on our lab's prior work, combining high-energy alternative zinc-ion chemistry and structural supercapacitors to make a recyclable version that enables second-life cells and outperforms prior state-of-the-art devices," says Koripally, the lead author of the study.    

“For the supercapacitor, the researchers created a zinc metal–copper foil anode and an activated-carbon-fiber cathode. In between, they placed a solid electrolyte made from a porous resin coated onto a plastic film and soaked in a zinc(II) chloride salt solution. The resin formed strong bonds when heated but broke apart in a slightly acidic liquid. Finally, they fused the layers together with heat, forming a thin device with a 2-volt potential.”

“From initial fabrication through two rounds of recycling, the carbon fibers successfully completed more than 172,000 charge-discharge cycles and maintained similar electrical performance throughout their lifetime.”

“These findings demonstrate a promising approach for lightweight energy storage that minimizes electronic waste, the team says.”

     It is mainly the carbon-fiber cathode that is recycled. The disassembly reaction in the weak acid takes place at room temperature.

    

References:

 

An energy storage device designed to be recycled. Science X staff. Tech Xplore. August 12, 2026.  An energy storage device designed to be recycled

Recyclable Zinc Ion Structural Supercapacitor Enabled by Porous Vitrimer. Nandu Koripally; Lulu Yao; Robert Chambers; Shengqiang Cai; Tse Nga Ng. ACS Energy Lett. (2026), August 11, 2026. Recyclable Zinc Ion Structural Supercapacitor Enabled by Porous Vitrimer | ACS Energy Letters | ACS Publications

China’s Strategic Oil Reserve: Largest in the World: Data and Comparisons with the U.S.

  

    China’s moves to stockpile oil proved advantageous following the disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz. It is estimated that China holds by far the world’s largest strategic oil reserve at 1.3 billion barrels. That is equivalent to about 3.6 million barrels per day for a year. While that is a lot of oil, it is still far less than the oil produced by the U.S., 23.6 million barrels per day. China also produces about 4.3 million barrels per day, but its total production and strategic reserve are less than a third of U.S. production. China consumes over 16 million barrels per day, about four times what it produces. The U.S., in contrast, consumes about 20.6 million barrels per day, about 2.7 million barrels per day less than it produces, and it exports the excess. I made the graph below that compares these numbers. It shows that oil exports from the U.S. triple China’s strategic oil reserves. It also suggests that increased exports from the U.S., along with strategic oil releases around the world of 400 MMBbls, including 172MMBbls from the U.S., have done the most to stabilize oil markets. Japan and Europe, which also have significant strategic oil reserves, contributed. While China’s strategic oil reserves helped to buffer it from high oil prices, they did not tap into them. Such a large SPR is necessary for a country whose mass consumption of oil far exceeds its production. 

     The following graph shows strategic oil reserves by country before the recent drawdowns.

     An article in Outlook Business Desk suggests that China cut its oil imports by 40% in June and that buffered by its use of strategic reserves, its growing domestic production, and its growing adoption of EVs. Of course, high petrol prices will make EVs more competitive. However, these three buffers combined are only a temporary reprieve for a country as reliant on oil imports as China. Its loss of 5-6 MMBbl/day of imports is probably not sustainable in the long term. While China has not tapped its SPR like the U.S., Japan, and Europe have, it has tapped into commercial and corporate reserves at refineries, which include several hundred million barrels. They have also cut exports of refined products. This is offsetting a 40% reduction in imports. At some point, that lost imported oil will have to be replaced to meet demand. When is the question?  

     According to Wikipedia:

“China's strategic petroleum reserve (SPR) remained nearly unchanged between the start of the Iran war and June 2026. To ensure domestic supplies without using strategic reserves, China halted its supplies of refined oil products to other countries, while using corporate stockpiles, outside its official SPR of 1.23 billion barrels, to supply domestic needs. There could also be other previously unreported reserves in China. China's growing renewable energy sector and electric vehicle industry have also reduced the demand for petroleum products. The reduction in demand caused China to cut its oil imports. Analyst estimates from June 2026 differ on how long this can last: while they claim commercial reserves should last past the end of 2026, some also claim overall reserves will be depleted before then. China's paused demand and stockpile of oil has kept the global oil price below market expectations since the war started, with the aim of avoiding a global recession. Analysts have anticipated low imports even shortly after the war's end. The country's future buying decisions are likely to influence the global crude price.”

     A July article by Rand Europe explores how China could use its large SPR for geoeconomic leverage, but I would caution that the leverage is limited for a country so reliant on imports. It may give them leverage compared to other net importers such as India, which imports 90% of its oil. I think such geoeconomic leverage will be quite limited. They do mention that when China’s oil demand drops, probably sometime in the 2030s, I’m guessing, due to more electrification and nuclear power, its SPR can provide more leverage. However, a large net importer will never enjoy the leverage of a net producer like the U.S. Thus, China’s SPR, while a good and useful tool for China, can do little for world markets, except temporarily reduce world demand.

     China does understand the value of its SPR and has been loading it up since late 2025. Ongoing projects in 2025-2026 will add about 169 million BPD in new storage capacity. China’s buildup of its SPR is likely a response to the Russia-Ukraine war, and it is helping cushion it during the Iran war as well. Low oil prices in 2025 spurred Chinese buying for its SPR. China also diversified its import sources in 2025, which aided it in the 2026 disruptions. China also maintains some secrecy about its stored oil reserves, and many people believe they have more oil stored than indicated. The “several hundred million barrels” of commercial and corporate reserves are part of that.

 

References:

 

Who Holds the World’s Largest Strategic Oil Inventories in 2026? Economics Insider. May 18, 2026. Who Holds the World’s Largest Strategic Oil Inventories in 2026?

China's strategic petroleum reserve as a geoeconomic tool: A 'what if' exercise. Ismael Arciniegas Rueda, Henri van Soest, and Karishma V. Patel. Rand. July 21, 2026. China's strategic petroleum reserve as a geoeconomic tool: A 'what if' exercise | RAND

Strategic petroleum reserve (China). Wikipedia. Strategic petroleum reserve (China) - Wikipedia

China Cut Oil Imports By 40% Amid Hormuz Crisis; Here’s How It Pulled It Off: As the Strait of Hormuz crisis disrupts global oil flows, China’s massive reserves, record domestic output and rapid EV adoption have helped it absorb the shock better than India. Outlook Business Desk. August 10, 2026. China Cut Oil Imports By 40% Amid Hormuz Crisis; Here’s How It Pulled It Off – Outlook Business

China accelerates oil reserve site build amid stockpiling drive. Reuters. October 7, 2025. China accelerates oil reserve site build amid stockpiling drive | Reuters

 

River Sand and Gravel Mining/Dredging is Impacting Rivers, Groundwater, Water Quality, Sediment Availability, and Coastal Saltwater Intrusion

      A new meta-study analyzing over 400 previous studies was recently published in Review of Geophysics about the dredging and mining of river sand and gravel and its impacts. The study confirmed that river sand and gravel are often extracted much faster than they can naturally be replaced. This results in significant impacts. 

     According to ZME Science:

“The riverbeds sink, banks collapse, groundwater drops, saltwater moves inland, habitats disappear, and communities lose land and livelihoods.”

     They note that river sand and gravel are preferred for concrete production and make up to 70% of concrete by volume. Global extraction of sand and gravel amounts to about 50 billion metric tons per year.

“Mining lowers the riverbed and changes how water moves. Faster, more turbulent flows can scour the channel and push erosion. Scientists sometimes call this hungry water: flow with enough energy to carry sediment, but too little sediment available, so it begins eroding the river itself.”

“Over time, the channel can deepen, widen or straighten. Banks can collapse, which can threaten houses, roads, and farmland well beyond the mining site. The effects can also travel underground. Rivers interact with nearby groundwater, so a deeper channel can contribute to falling water tables. In coastal deltas, it can also allow seawater to move farther inland, threatening freshwater supplies and agriculture.”

“Sandbars, gravel beds and shallow channels provide habitat and feeding or breeding grounds for fish and aquatic insects. Dredging can remove those features directly while stirring fine sediment into the water, reducing light and degrading water quality.”

     They note that sediment replenishment rates for rivers need to be better understood. They suggest that areas where dredging would have less impact should be identified and prioritized for extraction. The good news is that after mining is stopped, rivers can build up sediment and get back to normal sedimentation over time.

     The paper’s abstract summarizes the impacts and notes that problems are likely to develop where extraction is growing fast, such as Africa and Asia:

“In most documented cases, annual removal exceeds bed-material supply several-fold, producing channel incision, bank collapse, declining groundwater tables, deteriorating water quality, and inland migration of saline water in coastal areas. These physical changes cascade into habitat loss, infrastructure damage, and livelihood insecurity, especially across rapidly developing regions of Asia and Africa.”

     Below are figures from the paper. The first explores global demand and consumption of river sand and gravel resources.

     The figure below shows geomorphic impacts of river sand and gravel extraction.

     The figure below shows a conceptual framework of river-aquifer interactions after sand and gravel extraction.

     Impacts of river sand and gravel mining on water quality are depicted below.

     Impacts of river sand and gravel mining on coastal erosion, sediment starvation, delta formation, tidal processes, and saltwater intrusion on aquifers are shown below.

     The following section is from the paper’s conclusions:

“The synthesis of hydrogeomorphic evidence indicates that physical processes form the main pathway through which mining effects propagate across space and time. Removal of bed material alters channel gradients and flow structure, initiating incision, knickpoint migration, bank instability, and changes in sediment transport and connectivity. These responses differ between gravel- and sand-dominated rivers and between artisanal and mechanized extraction, but they share a common pattern: once sediment removal exceeds replenishment, impacts are rarely confined to the excavation site. Over years to decades, local disturbances accumulate, lowering water levels, modifying flood dynamics, and reducing sediment supply to downstream rivers, deltas, and coasts. Ecological and socio-economic impacts reported across regions—such as habitat loss, declining fisheries, infrastructure damage, and livelihood insecurity—are therefore closely tied to these hydrogeomorphic adjustments, even although they are seldom quantified alongside physical process metrics.”

 

 References:

   

The environmental problem you’ve never heard about: Sand mining is quietly reshaping rivers around the world. Mihai Andrei. ZME Science. August 13, 2026. The environmental problem you’ve never heard about: Sand mining is quietly reshaping rivers around the world

River Sand and Gravel Mining: Global Drivers, Impacts, and Pathways for Sustainable Management. Edward Park, Christopher R. Hackney, Dung Duc Tran, Mette Bendixen, Jim Best, Kai Wan Yuen, Hannah Runeckles, Md Sadiul Alam Chyon, Karl Kästner, Sonu Kumar, Halinishi Yusuf, Vanessa Lamb, Lars L. Iversen, Aelis Spiller, Rajiv Sinha, Eduardo Francisco da Silva, Enner Alcantara, Chengcheng Wu, Chengpeng Lu, Chu Jian, Jingyu Wang, Nguyen Duc Thien, Lian Feng, Priyank Pravin Patel, Jiachun Huang, and Adam D. Switzer. Review of Geophysics. Volume 64, Issue 3. July 20, 2026. River Sand and Gravel Mining: Global Drivers, Impacts, and Pathways for Sustainable Management - Park - 2026 - Reviews of Geophysics - Wiley Online Library

DryFlow Magnetics Plans to Send a Waterless Magnetic Iron Ore Mineral Processing Unit from South Australia to Western U.S. Mine

 

      South Australian (SA) mining technology company DryFlow Magnetics recently sold its first waterless mineral processing unit, which is now being prepared for export to a mine in the Western U.S. The technology was developed with the backing of the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) and the SA Government.

     The patented technology is designed to process iron ore, recover critical minerals, and can process 200 tons per hour with very low water use. It is expected to be deployed in areas where water is scarce.

     According to Global Data:

“According to DryFlow Magnetics, the technology is intended to enhance ore quality and may provide new market opportunities for mine operators.”

“The company is also establishing a research laboratory in Texas as part of a collaborative venture focused on critical minerals research.”

“The US deployment is expected to guide the development of DryFlow Magnetics’ next-generation modular system, which is designed to process 200t per hour.”

“The company indicates that the initial units of this new platform will be used in SA under a commercial agreement with Peak Iron Mines, with additional support from a Federal Government grant.”

     Below is a schematic depiction showing how the processing technology works. Iron is magnetic, which makes it quite amenable to magnetic separation.

     Below is an example flow diagram from mine to final use. 

     From the graphic below, it looks like the unit(s) exported to the U.S. will be 20-tons per hour units banked together. The end product for these includes iron sulfate fertilizers. 200 tons per hour units will be used to process high-magnetite Australian iron ore to be used in sustainable steel-making with electric arc furnaces.

     The paragraph below explains the company’s Kuchel separation process:

“Invented by Ian Kuchel and protected by a global patent portfolio, the Kuchel Process is DryFlow’s innovative stacked magnetics technology for efficient dry mineral separation, especially for producing DRI Grade high-grade iron concentrates. This advanced process employs a continuous magnetic induction field along the ore carrying belt, allowing magnetic particles the necessary residence time to disentangle from gangue and form a clean concentrate of high purity iron. Unlike conventional dry separation technologies, DryFlow’s approach does not depend on energy-intensive drying or forced air fluidisation. Instead, the ore self-fluidises within the magnetic field, enabling effective separation even at moisture levels exceeding 10%. The outcome is a robust, waterless mineral processing system designed for real mine conditions, including those in remote, arid, and variable ore environments, thus exemplifying a sustainable mining technology.”

     Below is a video demonstration of the process.

 

 

References:

 

DryFlow prepares first commercial mining technology for US export. Shree Mishra. Global Data. Mining Technology. August 5, 2026. DryFlow prepares first commercial mining technology for US export

Dry Magnetic Separation Technology for Sustainable Mining: Waterless Mineral Processing. Dryflow Magnetics. Dry Magnetic Separation for Sustainable Mining Solutions

More Free Time Amid Higher Employment Makes Europeans Wealthier Than Americans, Successfully Argues Social Democrat/Socialist Think Tanker

     What good is wealth if you don’t have time to enjoy it? Free time is certainly a kind of freedom that can be readily enjoyed more than the drudgery of work. In a recent article for People’s Policy Project, a social democracy/socialist think-tanker, Matt Bruenig explores whether Europeans or Americans are richer. While I disagree flat-out with many socialist policies, I agree with some social democracy policies. I am somewhat in agreement with the socialists about taxing the wealthy and universal health care, although I likely disagree on the means to get there and how such policies should be organized.

     Bruenig says that when the GDP data is adjusted for hours worked and inequality, two things that are much higher for Americans than Europeans, the data show that Europeans are wealthier than Americans.   

     The graphs below come from OECD data. I am not sure if the original data was organized into the four categories here: the U.S., the Angiosphere (UK, Australia, and Canada), Continental Europe (France and Germany), and the Nordic countries (Norway, Denmark, Sweden, and Finland). There are a total of ten countries compared. GDP per Capita, not the whole story, puts the U.S. second, behind Norway. It should be pointed out that Norway is a successful petro-exporting state with a small population and a successfully invested large sovereign wealth fund.  

     When GDP per hour worked is considered, the U.S. drops to fourth behind Norway, Denmark, and Germany.

     The U.S. and Canada lead in hours worked per worker, which means workers there have less free time. 

     He notes that “there are two ways a country can work less than another: by having a lower employment rate or by giving its workers more time off.” Below, the data clearly show that the unemployment rate in the U.S. is much higher than in several of these countries. The U.S. ranks ninth out of the ten countries in share of population with a job. This confirms that many of these countries have higher employment rates but fewer hours worked.

     Bruenig writes:

“Germany is the most extreme case in the group, as it has a higher GDP per hour than America, the highest overall employment rate, and the lowest number of hours worked per worker. Germany is not poorer than the US. It has just chosen to cash out more of its productivity in the form of free time than the US has. The other Western European countries have made similar decisions.”

     He argues that relying on GDP per capita suggests that free time has no “value” when we know many people value their time off from work, even those who work a lot. He makes another argument:

“…a country with a more egalitarian distribution of income is richer — has more utility — than a country with a less egalitarian distribution.”

     I would probably agree with that statement, which suggests that reducing inequality by giving the poor more (regardless of whether the wealthy are taxed more) makes the whole country wealthier. To advance his argument, he cites the marginal utility of money, or “the change in utility (pleasure or satisfaction resulting from the consumption) of one unit of a good or service.” To explain, he notes that:

“…an extra dollar distributed to a millionaire is worth far less than an extra dollar distributed to a low-income or middle-income person.”

     He also points out:

“On every conventional measure of disposable-income inequality, the US runs far behind peer nations.”

     He points out that he is using mainstream conventional economics to arrive at his conclusions in the article. It is hard to disagree. When we Americans say we live in the richest country in the world, there are a few caveats.

 

    

References:

 

Western Europe Is Richer Than the US: Let’s put an end to the stupid GDP discourse. Matt Bruenig. Peoples Policy Project. Evonomics. August 4, 2026. Western Europe Is Richer Than the US — People's Policy Project

Marginal utility. Wikipedia. Marginal utility - Wikipedia

Aid Cuts, Drought, and Government and Tribal Diversion Contribute to Surging Malnutrition in Somalia

     The Washington Post reports that, according to Doctors Without Borders, hospital admissions for severe malnutrition in Somalian displacement camps have surged 83% this year. They found that nearly half the children in the camps in Baidoa in southwestern Somalia were malnourished, and over 100 died. Aid to the country has dropped by 80% and is a direct cause of malnutrition. USAID used to be the largest contributor by far of food aid to Somalia. Somalia has one of the world’s highest numbers of displaced people, with millions living in camps and many 100% dependent on food aid for survival.

“In spite of all our medical treatment, in spite our efforts to increase our team, to increase care, unfortunately, we have also seen the increasing number of deaths,” Sangma told The Washington Post. “We suspect that there are more deaths in the community which we cannot confirm.”

     WAPO notes:

“The Trump administration has cut virtually all aid to Somalia, ranked the fourth-poorest country by the World Population Review. In 2023, Somalia received $1.18 billion in U.S. aid.”

“The State Department suspended all assistance to the Somalian government in January after accusing it of seizing more than 83 tons of food aid and destroying a U.S.-funded World Food Program warehouse.”

“The Trump Administration has a zero-tolerance policy for waste, theft, and diversion of life-saving assistance,” the department said at the time. “Any resumption of assistance will be dependent upon the Somali Federal Government, taking accountability for its unacceptable actions and taking appropriate remedial steps.”

     While there is legitimate concern about the Somali government, loss of aid is still increasing malnutrition and death for children, which should be the bigger concern.

     Unfortunately, aid from the EU and the UN is also down in Somalia.

“Six million people were facing “high levels of acute food insecurity,” including 1.9 million in emergency conditions, the OCHA reported, and nearly 1.88 million children were expected to need treatment for acute malnutrition.”

“What we are seeing is shocking and far beyond the threshold of an extremely critical emergency,” MSF project coordinator Allara Ali said. “What is equally shocking is the lack of urgency from donors, who continue to downscale and withdraw support from Somalia.”

     A severe drought that has caused crop failures and livestock deaths is also a major factor in the malnutrition spike. Water supplies have also been depleted. As can be readily seen in the pic below from 2023, livestock are starving as well.

“The consequences of the cuts are becoming more visible now and will get worse in the coming years,” Sangma said. “But the gaps, we already see.”

     Reuters reports that “a July survey by MSF of 888 households in 14 displacement sites in Baidoa, southwest Somalia, found that one in four children was severely malnourished. One third of families said they were surviving on one meal a day, while only 2% could afford three meals.”

“According to the United Nations, more than half a million people were displaced in Somalia in the first three months of 2026, with drought driving most of the movement. Women and children accounted for about 85% of those displaced.”

     One concern is that another famine will be declared like the one in 2022.

     Theft of food aid has been a problem in Somalia for years. In 2023, it was reported that landowners, local authorities, members of the security forces, and humanitarian workers were all involved in stealing aid intended for vulnerable people. Were they hungry too? Did they sell the food? The former is almost justifiable, but the latter is not. The UN reported in 2023 that “post-delivery aid diversion in Somalia is widespread and systemic."

     Along with government interference, there is tribalism and Islamic extremism, neither of which helps those who need aid, but is likely involved in diverting it. In one respect, we should be glad that someone is getting the food. Unfortunately, this kind of food aid diversion has been a problem for decades in Somalia and Ethiopia, where there is a long history of need for food aid.

     Reuters reported in 2023 that the move toward cash-based systems thwarted food assistance diversion when implemented in 2011, but since then, workarounds have been found.

“The U.N. report was the latest evidence that cash-based systems can be exploited too. It identified a variety of perpetrators, led by so-called "gatekeepers," powerful individuals from dominant local clans.”

“These gatekeepers leverage their influence over access to camp sites and food beneficiary lists to coerce payments from IDPs, the report said.”

“Members of security forces also play a role by intimidating and sometimes arresting those who refuse to pay, while some humanitarian workers collude with gatekeepers to pocket stolen funds, the report said.”

     Thus, tribal and government collusion in food aid diversion is real and, in this region, has become a systemic problem that needs to be addressed. It should be seen as the criminal behavior that it is, and those responsible should be accountable. However, the solution should not involve cutting life-saving aid to those in need who are not criminals, especially children. 

 

References:

 

Severe malnutrition in Somalia is surging after US cuts, aid groups say. Rael Ombuor. Washinton Post. August 11, 2026. Severe malnutrition in Somalia is surging after US cuts, aid groups say

Somalia malnutrition response hit by more than 80% funding drop as child hunger surges, MSF says. Feisal Omar. Reuters. August 11, 2026. Somalia malnutrition response hit by more than 80% funding drop as child hunger surges, MSF says

EU temporarily holds back food aid in Somalia after UN finds widespread theft. Gabriela Baczynska, Michelle Nichols, Aaron Ross and Emma Farge. Reuters. September 19, 2023. EXCLUSIVE: EU temporarily holds back food aid in Somalia after UN finds widespread theft | Reuters