The U.S. Department of State has released figures estimating that more than 29,000 children have died from famine in Somalia in the last 90 days. The toll marks the first time a casualty figure has been released since the crisis exploded last month. This week the United Nations warned the famine has spread to three new areas to cover five regions of southern Somalia. There are widespread fears all of southern Somalia could be declared in a state of famine by the middle of next month. In Washington, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton condemned the militant group al-Shabab for blocking relief efforts in regions under its control.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton: “It is particularly tragic that during the holy month of Ramadan, al-Shabab are preventing assistance to the most vulnerable populations in Somalia, namely children, including infants and girls, and women who are attempting to bring themselves and those children to safety and to the potential of being fed before more deaths occur. I call on al-Shabab to allow assistance to be delivered in an absolutely unfettered way throughout the area that they currently control, so that as many lives as possible can be saved.”