The US development agency USAid said the $28m (£17m) it pledged to Somalia this week would target areas hardest hit by the drought. But, given the strength of feeling the Americans have towards al-Shabaab – it's on a list of terrorist organisations – and the fact that it controls the two areas of Somalia the UN declared to be famine zones, Bakool and Lower Shabelle, it is difficult to see how those most in need will benefit from the money.
Donald Steinberg, deputy administrator of USAid, said on Wednesday that America needed assurances from the UN that al-Shabaab would not restrict delivery of US-funded aid in rebel areas before it would allow its aid to be delivered.
"We are committed to saving lives in Somalia and we are already working in any area not controlled by al-Shabaab," said Steinberg. "We've instructed Unicef and WFP [World Food Programme] that they can use our assistance in any part not under al-Shabaab control. As soon as the UN and WFP declare that Shabab is not going to be taxing or hindering assistance using the local population as hostages and can prove unfettered access, we are prepared to go ahead with assistance through any agency."
International NGOs working in Somalia already face heavy restrictions on their activities but Islamic Relief perhaps has more freedom than others. It has been working within a 30-mile radius of the capital, Mogadishu, but last week it was able to travel deeper into central and southern Somalia on an assessment mission and is confident it can swiftly scale up its existing operation to reach more people.
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