Areas which were under control of al-Shabaab in Somalia's anarchic capital can now be reached by aid workers, and there is hope that this access will be expanded in the coming weeks.

Separately, more food is being delivered to rural areas where the Islamists were pushed back in recent fighting, said Stanlake Samkange, regional director East and Central Africa for the UN's World Food Programme.

"There are areas where a month ago we did not have access that we are already beginning distributions," he told The Daily Telegraph.

"We are expanding our activities in Mogadishu and we are looking to dramatically increase those activities over the coming days and weeks as the security situation in the city permits."

Almost three-quarters of the 100,000 people who have fled to Somalia's anarchic capital will by this week have been given emergency packs including shelter and cooking utensils.