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UN warns on Somali human crisis Somalia is 'worst refugee crisis'
(about 2 hours later)
More people have been displaced in Somalia in the past two months than anywhere else in the world, the United Nations has said.More people have been displaced in Somalia in the past two months than anywhere else in the world, the United Nations has said.
Stephanie Bunker, spokeswoman for UN relief coordinator John Holmes, said at least 350,000 people had fled fighting in Mogadishu since February.Stephanie Bunker, spokeswoman for UN relief coordinator John Holmes, said at least 350,000 people had fled fighting in Mogadishu since February.
There is also concern for those trapped in the city, where more than 600 have died from acute diarrhoea and cholera.There is also concern for those trapped in the city, where more than 600 have died from acute diarrhoea and cholera.
The UN has requested that fighting ceases so that aid can be brought in. A BBC correspondent says for the first time in nine days gunfire has stopped.
href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/07/africa_enl_1177588358/html/1.stm" onClick="window.open('http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/07/africa_enl_1177588358/html/1.stm', '1177588563', 'toolbar=0,scrollbars=0,location=0,statusbar=0,menubar=0,resizable=1,width=416,height=483,left=312,top=100'); return false;">UNHCR map shows where thousands have fled to from Somalia's capital Mogadishu href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/07/africa_enl_1177588358/html/1.stm" onClick="window.open('http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/07/africa_enl_1177588358/html/1.stm', '1177588563', 'toolbar=0,scrollbars=0,location=0,statusbar=0,menubar=0,resizable=1,width=416,height=483,left=312,top=100'); return false;" >Enlarge Map AFP news agency is reporting that Ethiopians and government troops are moving house-to-house in northern districts arresting suspected insurgents.
All men are fleeing from the houses because the Ethiopian forces are arresting them Shamso NurMogadishu resident The UN had requested that fighting ceased so that aid could be brought in.
Aid is ready and waiting to be delivered to the city, but it cannot be brought in while the fighting is still going on, it says.Aid is ready and waiting to be delivered to the city, but it cannot be brought in while the fighting is still going on, it says.
Battles continued in Mogadishu on Thursday, as Ethiopian and Somali government troops tried to drive insurgents and militias from the city. On Thursday, Prime Minister Ali Mohamed Ghedi said his forces were in control of the capital and the worst of the fighting was now over.
Latest reports say gunfire and mortar explosion are continuing to echo through the streets.
However, Prime Minister Ali Mohamed Ghedi said his forces were in control of the capital and the worst of the fighting was now over.
Bureaucracy chargeBureaucracy charge
The BBC's Farhia Ali says the sounds of mortars and shelling had stopped on Friday morning.
UNHCR map shows where thousands have fled to from Somalia's capital MogadishuEnlarge Map
People were venturing down to the central Bakara market area to check on their businesses and to see if the buildings were still standing, she said.
Meanwhile, there are reports that insurgents are fleeing northern districts.
"All men are fleeing from the houses because the Ethiopian forces are arresting them," Shamso Nur told AFP.
Another witness said that bodies were being collected from the streets for burial.
'Concerned'
Ms Bunker said displacements in Somali had topped those in Iraq, Darfur and Sri Lanka.Ms Bunker said displacements in Somali had topped those in Iraq, Darfur and Sri Lanka.
"If you look at the situation from February until now, in that one timeframe, more people have been displaced inside Somalia than any place else in the world," she told the BBC."If you look at the situation from February until now, in that one timeframe, more people have been displaced inside Somalia than any place else in the world," she told the BBC.
"We are very concerned about the people who have had to flee their homes because of the fighting, but we are also very concerned about those who are still trapped inside the city of Mogadishu."
Clan divisions behind violenceClan divisions behind violence
Earlier Mr Holmes said aid was reaching just 60,000 people. "We are very concerned about the people who have had to flee their homes because of the fighting, but we are also very concerned about those who are still trapped inside the city of Mogadishu."
Some 300 people have been killed in the recent clashes, after 1,000 deaths last month, local human rights group say. Earlier Mr Holmes said aid was reaching just 60,000 people. Some 300 people have been killed in the recent clashes, after 1,000 deaths last month, local human rights group say.
The Union of Islamic Courts controlled Mogadishu for six months last year - reuniting the capital for the first time since 1991.The Union of Islamic Courts controlled Mogadishu for six months last year - reuniting the capital for the first time since 1991.
They were toppled last December by Ethiopia-backed government forces.
The Islamist fighters have been joined by gunmen from the Hawiye clan, which does not back the government.The Islamist fighters have been joined by gunmen from the Hawiye clan, which does not back the government.
Donors and diplomats have accused the government of hindering the aid effort with bureaucratic obstacles.Donors and diplomats have accused the government of hindering the aid effort with bureaucratic obstacles.
The government says its checks on aid shipments are necessary to prevent insurgent attacks.The government says its checks on aid shipments are necessary to prevent insurgent attacks.
Somalia has not had a functional government since 1991.Somalia has not had a functional government since 1991.
Peace talks led to the formation of a transitional government in 2004, but it has so far failed to take full control of the country.Peace talks led to the formation of a transitional government in 2004, but it has so far failed to take full control of the country.
Ethiopian troops announced they had begun to withdraw, to be replaced by an African Union peacekeeping force, but only 1,200 of the 8,000 troops the AU says it needs have been deployed.Ethiopian troops announced they had begun to withdraw, to be replaced by an African Union peacekeeping force, but only 1,200 of the 8,000 troops the AU says it needs have been deployed.