Wed Aug 3, 2011 12:36AM GMT
Somali refugees line-up at a registration centre on August 2, 2011 at Dagahaley refugee site within the Dadaab complex in Kenya to receive aid.
Aid groups have warned that the harsh drought ravaging Horn of Africa is expected to worsen, further exacerbating famine across the region.
"The next three to four months are set to worsen in Ethiopia, Kenya and parts of southern Somalia and the situation will remain classified as an 'emergency' until the end of the year," aid agency Oxfam warned Tuesday.
"The whole south of Somalia is likely to be declared a famine due to a combination of worsening pastoral conditions, further food price increases and poor harvest," the group added, AFP reported.
UN had earlier declared famine in the Bakool and Lower Shabelle regions of southern Somalia.
Oxfam urged the donor governments to fulfill their pledges for providing money more quickly to assist more than 12 million people affected by the disaster in the Horn countries.
The United Nations has said the total number of people in need of aid could soon exceed 15 million if prompt action is not taken.
The UN under secretary general for humanitarian affairs and emergency relief coordinator , Valerie Amos, has said some $2.8 billion is needed to stop the spread of the catastrophe.
The UN Food and Agricultural Organization said Uganda could soon be affected by severe food shortages.
The UN children's agency UNICEF says it is trying to get 5,000 metric tons of food from its warehouses in Europe to the drought-hit region, but the shipment is expensive and will take six weeks.
Some airlines such as the British Airways, Lufthansa, Virgin Atlantic and UPS have expressed readiness to carry between 15 and 50 metric tons a week for free but more assistance from other airlines is required, Marixie Mercado, a UNICEF spokeswoman said.
UN aid groups say the ongoing battle between al-Shabab fighters and Somali government backed by African Union forces has impeded the progress of aid delivery especially in places under control of the anti-government group.
World Food Program has said it cannot reach more than 2.2 million Somalis who live in territory controlled by al-Shabab in south-central Somalia.
Last week, Somali government launched an offensive against the al-Shabab in order to facilitate the distribution of aid.
MA/MGH
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