CAPITALISM CAUSES STARVATION

"Somalia is on the brink of a "hidden famine" which threatens to leave more than half of the country's population in need of emergency assistance by the end of the year. The entire Horn of Africa, including Ethiopia, Djibouti and parts of Kenya, is gripped by a food crisis. A deepening drought and rocketing food prices have put about 14 million people at risk – three million more than in 2006 when the last major drought hit the region. But the situation is most severe in Somalia. A continuing conflict, pitting Ethiopian and Somali government forces on one side and a variety of Islamist militias on the other, is having a devastating effect on relief operations." (Independent, 23 July) RD