A third of the Somali popluation have fled their homes since February because of the renewed fighting in country, particularly in the capital, Mogadishu. The United Nations is calling on all Somali parties to give aid workers access to the city to be able to distribute aid. The interim Somali government is the major obstacle to entry for the aid workers, according to U.N.’s humanitarian affairs chief John Holmes. Hundreds of civilians have been killed and many more wounded in battles between government-loyal forces backed by Ethiopian troops and Islamist fighters.