An international delegation is in the self-declared republic of Somaliland at the start of a five-day mission to Somalia to try to find new ways to end the conflict there.

Representatives of the regional organization IGAD, supported by the European Union and the United Nations, are taking part in the mission -- which is the biggest of its kind for four years.

The BBC East Africa correspondent says it's been given impetus by new warnings that three-hundred thousand Somalis face a food crisis in the coming year.

The delegation is expected to try to find ways of involving more of the local community in peace initiatives -- including religious and women's organizations and village elders.