U.N. concerned over U.S. Somalia action

UNITED NATIONS, Jan. 10 (UPI) -- U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has expressed concern over the U.S. air strikes on Somalia, particularly their humanitarian impact.

Ban's spokeswoman, Michele Montas, said the United Nations is seeking assessing the possibility of renewing emergency assistance to the strife-torn country and the thousands who need help at the border with Kenya.

"We are trying to gather more information about the military action in southern Somalia including through the office in Nairobi of the secretary-general's special representative for Somalia," said Montas, referring to Francois Lonseny Fall.

"Notwithstanding the motives for this reported military action, the secretary-general is concerned about the new dimension this kind of action could introduce to the conflict and the possible escalation of hostilities that may result," she told reporters Tuesday at U.N. World Headquarters in New York. "He is also concerned about the impact this would have on the civilian population in southern Somalia, and regrets the reported loss of civilian lives."

The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said at least 4,700 internally displaced persons on the border with Kenya have no access to humanitarian aid and are in critical need of food, shelter, medicine and basic supplies, she said.

"The U.N. is planning to send an assessment team to the Kenya-Somalia border on Thursday. The team will look into the possibility of re-starting humanitarian deliveries into Somalia and examine recent population movements in and around the border," she said.

Humanitarian operations in Somalia were suspended and international staff evacuated when fighting between the Transitional Federal Government -- backed by Ethiopian troops -- and the Islamic Courts Union intensified late last month.