Catastrophe lurking in Somalia

MOGADISHU, Somalia, March 27 (UPI) -- U.N. officials are calling on the international community not to forget about Somalia as the country's humanitarian situation worsens and violence escalates.

Peter Goossens, U.N. World Food Program country director for Somalia, says the Horn of Africa is in dire need of assistance after fighting between government and rebel militants has caused and estimated 20,000 people to flee Mogadishu every month. Goossens is calling on the international community to bolster efforts as fighting and insecurity continues to threaten thousands of lives, the United Nations reported.

"The international community must put Somalia at the top of its agenda and press for change before it is too late," Goossens said in a statement. "We call on all authorities in Somalia to help us reach those in need and urge donors not to give up on this country.

"Unless real action to end insecurity is taken very soon, the world is in danger of seeing a whole generation of Somali children growing up having only known war."

The United Nations estimates that up to 700,000 people have been forced to flee Mogadishu in 2007. The WFP and other aid agencies have begun warning of the possibility of catastrophe in Somalia if violence is not reined in and aid continues to fall short.