Nairobi (Sunatimes) The United Nations says fewer people in drought- and famine-stricken Somalia are fleeing their homes as the crisis still continues in the country.

The U.N Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs says the number of internally displaced persons reaching the capital declined from its previous 28,000 in July to 5,000 this month.

The agency says the number of Somalis fleeing to refugee camps in Kenya and Ethiopia has also dropped, attributing to increased aid reaching Somalia’s Bay, Gedo, Bakool and Hiiraan regions, especially in areas along the Kenyan and Ethiopian borders.

The agency said it has also received reports that insurgent group Al-Shabaab continues to restrict the movement of people in areas under its control.

Hundreds of thousands of Somalis have fled their homes in recent months in search of food and water. The situation has led to severe overcrowding at refugee camps and the sight of Somalis dying while trying to walk to a place of refuge.

By Dahir Alasow