UN warns of Somali humanitarian crisis

The United Nations Food Programme has made a renewed appeal for humanitarian aid for half-a-million people in the south of Somalia who are suffering from serious food shortages.

The UN agency said it had appealed in August for 20,000 tonnes of food to contain the situation, but only 5,000 tonnes had been donated - and this would run out in March.

It warned that the low level of humanitarian assistance, the climate of insecurity and the fears of further disruption could push an already very precarious situation over the edge.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service