This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/africa/8078594.stm

The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Somalia crisis 'Africa's worst' Somalia crisis 'Africa's worst'
(30 minutes later)
The "very dire" humanitarian crisis in Somalia is the worst in Africa for many years, the aid agency Oxfam has warned. The "very dire" humanitarian crisis in Somalia is the worst in Africa for many years, says Oxfam's co-ordinator for the failed Horn of Africa state.
Many of its hundreds of thousands of internally-displaced people, the world's largest such concentration, have no food or shelter, said Oxfam. Many of its hundreds of thousands of internally-displaced people, the world's largest such concentration, have little food or shelter, he said.
Civilians have been fleeing an intense see-sawing battle between hardline Islamist guerrillas and forces loyal to the UN-backed government in Mogadishu. Mogadishu civilians have been fleeing intense fighting between Islamist guerrillas and pro-government forces.
The exodus continued from the capital on Tuesday amid the crackle of gunfire. The exodus is continuing from the capital amid the crackle of gunfire.
It is estimated at least one million people have been internally displaced by almost perpetual civil conflict in the failed Horn of Africa nation since the collapse of its central government in 1991. The BBC's Mohamad Olad Hassan in Mogadishu says city-dwellers are taking advantage of a relative lull in the fighting on Tuesday to get out, carrying light belongings in the arms.
Hassan Noor, Oxfam's humanitarian co-ordinator for Somalia, told the BBC's Network Africa programme that circumstances in Mogadishu were "very dire". Many thousands of people, mainly women and children, have fled to the outskirts of the city where most are sheltering under trees with little to eat or drink, he says.
"I have seen the situation in Darfur, northern Uganda, some parts of Congo, but what is actually happening now in Somalia is indeed the worst kind of humanitarian situation in Africa in many years," he said. What is actually happening now in Somalia is indeed the worst kind of humanitarian situation in Africa in many years Hassan NoorOxfam's Somalia co-ordinator
"The situation is really appalling," he added. Hassan Noor, Oxfam's humanitarian co-ordinator for Somalia, told the BBC's Network Africa programme circumstances in the capital were "very dire".
"There are hundreds of children all over the area with tubes on their faces and [saline] drips on their hands. Some of them are actually unconscious and suffering from all sorts of diseases, mainly acute water diarrhoea and cholera." "The situation is really appalling," he said.
Civilians continued to flee Mogadishu on Tuesday and many thousands have settled on the outskirts of the city where they are sheltering under trees without food or water. "There are hundreds of children all over the area with tubes on their faces and [saline] drips on their hands. Some of them are actually unconscious and suffering from all sorts of diseases, mainly acute diarrhoea and cholera."
The BBC's Mohamad Olad Hassan in Mogadishu says there is sporadic gunfire in the capital but this counts as a relative lull in the fighting and city-dwellers are taking advantage of it to get out, carrying light belongings in the arms. "I have seen the situation in Darfur, northern Uganda, some parts of Congo, but what is actually happening now in Somalia is indeed the worst kind of humanitarian situation in Africa in many years," he added.
Radical Islamist militia groups, Hisbul-Islam and al-Shabab, have been locked in fierce battles in the Somali capital with pro-government forces that have displaced more than 60,000 civilians since 7 May. Radical Islamist militia groups, Hisbul-Islam and al-Shabab, have been locked in see-sawing battles in the Somali capital with pro-government forces that have displaced more than 60,000 civilians since 7 May.
Pro-government forces appeared to gain some ground on Monday as they pressed on with a counter-offensive launched last week. Pro-government forces appeared to gain some ground on Monday as they pressed on with a counter-offensive launched last week against the insurgents, who control swathes of southern and central Somalia.
Loyalist troops in north Mogadishu retook a police station which had been occupied by insurgent fighters for the past month. The police station is seen as the key to controlling that area of town.Loyalist troops in north Mogadishu retook a police station which had been occupied by insurgent fighters for the past month. The police station is seen as the key to controlling that area of town.
At least 10 people were killed in the clashes, including five Somali policemen caught in a roadside bomb blast. However, at least five Somali policemen were killed in a roadside bomb blast in the south of the capital.
A moderate Islamist president took office in January but even his introduction of Sharia law to the strongly Muslim country has not appeased the guerrillas, who are accused of links to al-Qaeda.
There are 4,300 African Union peacekeepers from Uganda and Burundi in the capital to help bolster the government, but they do not have a mandate to pursue the insurgents.
The UN last month warned that drought had left nearly half of Somalia's nine million population malnourished and some 3.2 million in urgent need of food aid.
It is estimated at least one million people have been internally displaced by almost perpetual civil conflict in the failed Horn of Africa nation since the collapse of its central government in 1991.