NAIROBI, (IRIN)–Faced with a worsening humanitarian crisis, 3.5 million people – nearly half of Somalia’s population – may need food aid by the end of the year, a food security analysis has warned.

The Somali situation was deteriorating fast due to rapidly rising food prices, an abnormally harsh dry season and a delayed start to the main April-June rains, the Food Security Analysis Unit (FSAU) of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) said in a statement. More on SOMALIA: Some 3.5 million could need food aid by end of year