4 August 2011
Three new areas of Somalia have been classified as having been hit by famine according to the latest reports from the UN.
"Famine is expected to spread across all regions of the south in the coming four to six weeks," said the UN Food Security and Nutrition Analysis Unit (FSNAU).
Nearly 12 million people have been affected by the worst drought in 60 years in the Horn of Africa. People across Somalia, Ethiopia, Kenya and South Sudan are in desperate need of food, water and emergency health care.
Almost half the Somalia population are in need of life-saving assistance. Getting aid into Somalia has been difficult due to Al Shabaab control in areas of the South.
The UN said that famine is "likely to persist until at least December 2011".
Read here for the full BBC article.
Pray..."Lord, we pray for all those affected by famine and drought in East Africa. We pray that aid will arrive to the areas it is most needed. We ask that you will remove any hindrances and allow aid agencies to travel safely into Somalia.
Father, we pray that no more people will die, that the hungry will receive food, the sick medical help and that rain will fall and crops will grow.
In Your Name, Amen."