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Famine conditions in Somalia have ended, UN says Famine conditions in Somalia have ended, UN says
(40 minutes later)
Famine conditions have ended in war-torn Somalia six months after being first declared, the UN has said.Famine conditions have ended in war-torn Somalia six months after being first declared, the UN has said.
The improvement in access to food is due to a good harvest and significant humanitarian assistance, it said.The improvement in access to food is due to a good harvest and significant humanitarian assistance, it said.
But nearly a third of the population - some 2.34 million people - continued to need emergency support. But the UN humanitarian co-ordinator for the country said the situation remained serious.
And recurrent droughts in the Horn of Africa mean hunger remains a threat, the Somalia Food Security Nutrition Analysis Unit said. Nearly a third of the population - some 2.34 million people - still need emergency support, the Somalia Food Security Nutrition Analysis Unit said.
Somalia has not had a functioning central government for more than 20 years and has been wracked by fighting between militias.Somalia has not had a functioning central government for more than 20 years and has been wracked by fighting between militias.
'Fragile gains'
The UN declared famine in two parts of southern Somalia last July and, in September, extended the famine warning to six out of eight regions in the country.The UN declared famine in two parts of southern Somalia last July and, in September, extended the famine warning to six out of eight regions in the country.
"The gains are fragile and will be reversed without continued support," said the UN's Humanitarian Co-Ordinator for Somalia, Mark Bowden."The gains are fragile and will be reversed without continued support," said the UN's Humanitarian Co-Ordinator for Somalia, Mark Bowden.
He said in southern Somalia alone, some 1.7 million remained "in crisis".
"Millions of people still need food, clean water, shelter and other assistance to survive and the situation is expected to deteriorate in May," he said.
The UN said that the latest harvest in Somalia was double that of the average over the past 17 years, lowering food prices, though mortality rates in southern Somalia were still among the highest in the world.
Although $1.3bn (£84mn) worth of aid has been poured into the country, the scale of the suffering is immense, says the BBC's Martin Plaut.Although $1.3bn (£84mn) worth of aid has been poured into the country, the scale of the suffering is immense, says the BBC's Martin Plaut.
Last year, tens of thousands of Somalis fled rural areas - many over the borders to Ethiopia and Kenya - in search of food. The UN estimates that a total of 1.5 million people have been displaced by the crisis.Last year, tens of thousands of Somalis fled rural areas - many over the borders to Ethiopia and Kenya - in search of food. The UN estimates that a total of 1.5 million people have been displaced by the crisis.
On Monday, al-Qaeda-linked militant group al-Shabab - which controls much of central and southern Somalia - expelled the International Committee of the Red Cross.
The (ICRC) was one of the few international aid agencies delivering food aid to areas under rebel control.