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Horn of Africa drought: UK charities boost Somalia aid | Horn of Africa drought: UK charities boost Somalia aid |
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British aid agencies are preparing to expand their activities in Somalia to help some of the 10 million people at risk of starvation in East Africa. | British aid agencies are preparing to expand their activities in Somalia to help some of the 10 million people at risk of starvation in East Africa. |
Relief operations have been constrained by the security situation in Somalia. | Relief operations have been constrained by the security situation in Somalia. |
But Islamist militant group al-Shabab last week announced it was lifting a ban on foreign aid organisations because of the severity of the drought. | But Islamist militant group al-Shabab last week announced it was lifting a ban on foreign aid organisations because of the severity of the drought. |
The UK's Disasters Emergency Committee has launched an appeal after severe drought in the Horn of Africa. | The UK's Disasters Emergency Committee has launched an appeal after severe drought in the Horn of Africa. |
The Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) said Somalia, where there has been no national government for 20 years, was one of the hardest places in the world to deliver aid. | The Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) said Somalia, where there has been no national government for 20 years, was one of the hardest places in the world to deliver aid. |
Most international aid agencies in the country have been banned from working in areas under the control of al-Shabab, which is thought to have links to al-Qaeda. | Most international aid agencies in the country have been banned from working in areas under the control of al-Shabab, which is thought to have links to al-Qaeda. |
DEC charities are preparing to increase their work in southern Somalia as thousands of people continue to flee to Kenya, Ethiopia and even Somalia's war-torn capital Mogadishu. | DEC charities are preparing to increase their work in southern Somalia as thousands of people continue to flee to Kenya, Ethiopia and even Somalia's war-torn capital Mogadishu. |
One of the DEC's member charities, Islamic Relief, said its priorities in Somalia were focused on providing food aid, healthcare, clean water and sanitation facilities. | One of the DEC's member charities, Islamic Relief, said its priorities in Somalia were focused on providing food aid, healthcare, clean water and sanitation facilities. |
It said one of its projects has been working in camps in the Afgooye corridor - a 20km-long strip of land north-west of Mogadishu - where it has provided emergency food aid to 3,425 households. | It said one of its projects has been working in camps in the Afgooye corridor - a 20km-long strip of land north-west of Mogadishu - where it has provided emergency food aid to 3,425 households. |
The charity said £50 could provide clean water to 1,000 people, while £100 could provide emergency food to 100 families per day. | The charity said £50 could provide clean water to 1,000 people, while £100 could provide emergency food to 100 families per day. |
BBC world affairs correspondent Peter Biles said the agencies were now looking at every opportunity to help people in Somalia, although the new arrangements with al-Shabab are still to be tested. | BBC world affairs correspondent Peter Biles said the agencies were now looking at every opportunity to help people in Somalia, although the new arrangements with al-Shabab are still to be tested. |
Al-Shabab is officially labelled as a terrorist group by the UK and the US, and some donor governments are known to be worried about the possible diversion of aid to the insurgents. | Al-Shabab is officially labelled as a terrorist group by the UK and the US, and some donor governments are known to be worried about the possible diversion of aid to the insurgents. |
The DEC, a group of the UK's leading aid agencies, launched the fund-raising appeal with a series of TV and radio broadcasts on Friday. By Monday it had raised £9m. | The DEC, a group of the UK's leading aid agencies, launched the fund-raising appeal with a series of TV and radio broadcasts on Friday. By Monday it had raised £9m. |
Comedian Lenny Henry fronted the BBC TV appeal, while broadcaster Kate Adie voiced a radio version. | Comedian Lenny Henry fronted the BBC TV appeal, while broadcaster Kate Adie voiced a radio version. |
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The British public donated more than £1m to individual charities even before the DEC appeal was launched. | The British public donated more than £1m to individual charities even before the DEC appeal was launched. |
The UK has pledged £38m in food aid to drought-hit Ethiopia - enough to feed 1.3 million people for three months. | The UK has pledged £38m in food aid to drought-hit Ethiopia - enough to feed 1.3 million people for three months. |
Meanwhile, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) aid agency has started distributing aid in Mogadishu following the lifting of the ban by al-Shabab. | Meanwhile, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) aid agency has started distributing aid in Mogadishu following the lifting of the ban by al-Shabab. |
The OIC gave out dried food such as maize to some of the thousands of people who have fled to the capital recently. | The OIC gave out dried food such as maize to some of the thousands of people who have fled to the capital recently. |
An OIC official urged other aid groups to resume work in Somalia. | An OIC official urged other aid groups to resume work in Somalia. |
Thousands of families in desperate need of food and water have trekked for days from Somalia to the Dadaab refugee camp in eastern Kenya. | Thousands of families in desperate need of food and water have trekked for days from Somalia to the Dadaab refugee camp in eastern Kenya. |
The drought is the worst in East Africa for 60 years. The UN described it as a "humanitarian emergency". | The drought is the worst in East Africa for 60 years. The UN described it as a "humanitarian emergency". |