Floods hit southern Somalia

Floods are affecting large areas of central and southern Somalia, a region which was badly hit by drought earlier this year.

Correspondents in the region say rivers have burst their banks, livestock have been swept away and crops destroyed after weeks of heavy rain.

Aid agencies based in Nairobi have now sent teams into Somalia to assess the severity of the flooding and to report back on what help is needed.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service