ISN SECURITY WATCH (Thursday, 12 January: 10.45 CET) – The German government has announced it will provide some US$1 million to help stave off famine in war-ravaged Somalia.

“In order to fend off a threatening famine the German Development Ministry provided an amount of €750,000 to the World Food Program so that the suffering people in the south of Somalia can be assisted quickly and effectively,” German Development Minister Heidemarie Wieczorek-Zeul said in a Wednesday statement.

“In these times of distress it is especially important also for the Somali clans to overcome their disputes and come to an agreement among another for the people's sake,” he added.