JIJIGA, Ethiopia – Ethiopia(waoyanne) has been accused of deliberately underestimating the scale of a deadly drought facing millions of its people, some of whom are being deprived of emergency food aid by the country’s military. More on Ethiopia(Woyanne) accused of hiding famine as millions starve

ADDIS ABABA, 17 September 2008 (IRIN) – The Somali region of south-eastern Ethiopia is facing critical food and water shortages, with many families eating only one meal a day and others migrating to urban areas, the UN and aid agencies said.

As a result, malnutrition levels are increasing, especially in Korahe, Warder, Degehabur, Gode, Fiiq and parts of Liben and Afder zones, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), reported.

More on ETHIOPIA: Somali region facing food and water crisis

(CBS) In a sign that John McCain’s convention bounce has dissipated, Barack Obama has taken a 48 percent to 43 percent lead over his Republican rival among registered voters in the latest CBS News/New York Times poll.

McCain had a two percentage point lead among registered voters in a CBS News poll released on September 8th, just after the Republican National Convention. Prior to the party conventions, Obama led McCain by 3 points.