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| Somalia fighting prompts warning | |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Forty humanitarian agencies have warned of an impending catastrophe in Somalia unless urgent action is taken. | Forty humanitarian agencies have warned of an impending catastrophe in Somalia unless urgent action is taken. |
| The warning came as seven people were killed in the latest fighting between Islamist insurgents and Ethiopian troops supporting Somalia's government. | |
| Reports say insurgents attacked and briefly took control of the southern town of Jowhar. | Reports say insurgents attacked and briefly took control of the southern town of Jowhar. |
| One million Somalis have left their homes because of insecurity and hunger, the aid agencies say. | One million Somalis have left their homes because of insecurity and hunger, the aid agencies say. |
| Over the past year, Mogadishu has been rocked by almost daily violence and the agencies say a further 20,000 people flee the capital every month. | Over the past year, Mogadishu has been rocked by almost daily violence and the agencies say a further 20,000 people flee the capital every month. |
| The UN Security Council will discuss the situation on Thursday. | The UN Security Council will discuss the situation on Thursday. |
| Last week, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon presented the council with a report proposing the deployment of 27,000 peacekeepers to replace the stretched African Union force. | Last week, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon presented the council with a report proposing the deployment of 27,000 peacekeepers to replace the stretched African Union force. |
| Five soldiers and two civilians were killed in the latest outbreak of fighting in Jowhar, about 90km (60 miles) north of Mogadishu. | Five soldiers and two civilians were killed in the latest outbreak of fighting in Jowhar, about 90km (60 miles) north of Mogadishu. |
| Residents told the BBC that hundreds of fighters, belonging to the Union of Islamic Courts, attacked the town and freed several prisoners. | Residents told the BBC that hundreds of fighters, belonging to the Union of Islamic Courts, attacked the town and freed several prisoners. |
| 'Catastrophic' | 'Catastrophic' |
| In a joint statement, the 40 local and international aid agencies point out that in October last year they warned Somalia was heading towards crisis. | In a joint statement, the 40 local and international aid agencies point out that in October last year they warned Somalia was heading towards crisis. |
| For too long, the needs of ordinary Somalis have been forgotten Aid agencies' joint statement | For too long, the needs of ordinary Somalis have been forgotten Aid agencies' joint statement |
| Six months on, they say, the situation in the country had deteriorated dramatically and access to those in need had got far worse. | Six months on, they say, the situation in the country had deteriorated dramatically and access to those in need had got far worse. |
| The continued fighting in Mogadishu was displacing 20,000 others every month, the agencies warned. | The continued fighting in Mogadishu was displacing 20,000 others every month, the agencies warned. |
| The agencies said two million Somalis needed daily help to survive the crisis, which has been made worse by record food prices, hyper-inflation and drought in many parts of the country. | The agencies said two million Somalis needed daily help to survive the crisis, which has been made worse by record food prices, hyper-inflation and drought in many parts of the country. |
| Seasonal rains due to start soon are also predicted to fail. | Seasonal rains due to start soon are also predicted to fail. |
| "For too long, the needs of ordinary Somalis have been forgotten," the agencies said. | "For too long, the needs of ordinary Somalis have been forgotten," the agencies said. |
| They urged "the international community and all parties to the conflict to urgently focus their attention on the catastrophic humanitarian crisis in Somalia". | They urged "the international community and all parties to the conflict to urgently focus their attention on the catastrophic humanitarian crisis in Somalia". |
| "They must ensure access for humanitarian supplies, live up to their responsibility to protect civilians and address the environment of impunity," they added. | "They must ensure access for humanitarian supplies, live up to their responsibility to protect civilians and address the environment of impunity," they added. |
| "The humanitarian crisis will become more and more complex and will continue to deepen in the absence of a political solution to the current crisis." | "The humanitarian crisis will become more and more complex and will continue to deepen in the absence of a political solution to the current crisis." |
| Last month, the UN warned that Somalia was the world's "forgotten crisis". | Last month, the UN warned that Somalia was the world's "forgotten crisis". |