Mar 11, 2008, 13:50 GMT
Geneva - The situation in Somalia was deteriorating exacerbated by further fighting as well as water and food shortages, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said Tuesday.
The conflict and a lack of rain had made the situation worse in several regions, the organization told journalists in Geneva.
Doctors in hospitals in Mogadishu had treated 600 wounded in the first two months of the year, including 350 women and children.
Many families had fled the capital with no belongings and many were surviving on less than a meal a day.
ICRC representative in Somalia Daniel Gagnon said in Guriel, around 300 kilometres south of Mogadishu, people were living in 'shocking conditions.'
There was a lack of everything from basic sanitary facilities to food, water and kitchen utensils.
In the districts of Afgoye and Daynile close to the capital there had been outbreaks of malaria.
Mogadishu has been the scene of fighting since last year as Islamic militants battle with Somali and Ethiopian forces. The ICRC reminded all parties in the conflict of their duty to protect the civilian population.
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