Irish Aid reports difficulty in responding to Somalia crisis

A new report is warning that Somalia faces its worse humanitarian crisis in 18 years.

The authors say an escalating civil war is threatening to push the country into chaos.

The European Union has funded the study by the Food Security and Nutrition Analysis Unit of the UN's Food and Agriculture Organisation.

The report said the conflict is leading to a further deterioration in the food security and nutrition status of the people.

Junior Foreign Affairs Minister Peter Power admitted it is getting harder for Irish Aid to respond to the crisis.