UN declares new Somali famine area

The United Nations has declared that another region of southern Somalia is suffering the worst regional famine in 20 years. More than four million people in the Horn of Africa nation are at risk of starvation. UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Somalia Mark Bowden said, "The entire Bay region has now been declared a famine area, so there are now six famine areas in Somalia, up from five. In these areas, there are some 750 thousand people who are affected by famine conditions. This is an increase from the July figure of 350 thousand people." More than half of Somalia's entire population faces the famine crisis. Much of the country's southern and central regions are controlled by Islamist militants linked to al Qaeda. In early July, militants lifted a ban on food aid which made it difficult for humanitarian agencies to access communities. Years of drought have also hit Kenya and Ethiopia. The UN had earlier declared famine in Somalia's southern Bakool and Lower Shabelle regions.