2 million Somalis need food aid
2010-08-23 22:37
Nairobi - A UN agency says strong rains have cut the number of hungry people in Somalia by 25%, but that an estimated 2 million in the Horn of Africa country still need food aid.
The UN's Food and Agriculture Organisation said on Monday that the gains Somalia has seen the last six months could be reversed if rainfall runs short. Six months ago 2.65 million people needed food aid.
One in six children are malnourished, including 35 000 who are severely malnourished. The agency said 90% of those children live in conflict areas.
Somalia hasn't had a central government since 1991. Its most powerful militant group, al-Shabaab, has kicked out many aid groups in the south and has warned Somalis not to eat food from the World Food Programme (WFP).
- SAPA
