We, the undersigned NGOs, are extremely concerned about the devastating humanitarian crisis in Somalia.

Nearly half of Somalia's population, or 3.25 million people, are now in need of emergency aid. This is a 77% increase since the beginning of 2008. This number has increased dramatically over the past year due to the destructive combination of extreme insecurity, drought and record-high food prices. The situation is expected to deteriorate further with ordinary Somalis bearing the brunt of the cost.

Despite the ongoing political process we have not witnessed any lessening of the violence that continues to have a horrendous impact on civilians.

In the last few weeks, renewed shelling in Mogadishu has displaced approximately 37,000 civilians from their homes. Over the past nine months, 870,000 have fled for their lives. A total of 1.1 million people are currently displaced in Somalia today.

We are appalled by the indiscriminate and disproportional use of force by all armed parties to the conflict, which is further exacerbating the humanitarian crisis.

The poorest of Mogadishu's residents have no means to flee the extreme violence and have limited means to earn a living leaving them completely dependent on humanitarian assistance. This while the average Somali has seen price increases for food and water of up to 1,000 percent, plunging many into worsening poverty. One in six children under five, or approximately 180,000 children, is acutely malnourished in South and Central Somalia.

Aid workers are increasingly the victims of assassination and kidnapping and are now seen as legitimate targets. This year alone 24 aid workers, of which 20 are Somali nationals, have been killed whilst carrying out their work. The whereabouts of another ten are unknown. There have been 111 reported security incidents directly targeting aid agencies.

National and international aid agencies are prevented from responding effectively to the needs of ordinary Somalis because of violence and severely limited access. At present, South and Central Somalia is almost entirely off limits to international staff of aid agencies.

We call upon all parties to the conflict to allow aid agencies unhindered access to Somalis who are in desperate need of emergency assistance.

The international community has completely failed Somali civilians. We call on the international community to make the protection of Somali civilians a top priority now.

For more information, or to arrange an interview from the field, contact:

Conor O'Loughlin, Trócaire's International Humanitarian Communications Officer on +353 86 2071942.

Signatories to the statement (52 National and International NGOs): TRÓCAIRE ADRA - Adventist Relief Development Agency AET - Africa Educational Trust AFREC - Africa Rescue Committee ASEP - Advancement for Small Enterprise Program CARE - Cooperative Assistance for Relief Everywhere CARITAS SWITZERLAND & CARITAS LUXUMBOURG CEFA - Somalia European Committee for Agricultural Training CISP - Comitato Internazionale per lo Sviluppo dei Popoli CPD Centre for Peace and Democracy COOPI - Cooperazione Internazionale DEVELOPMENT CONCERN DRC - Danish Refugee Council DIAKONIA EMERGENCY AID BREAD FOR THE WORLD DIAKONIA Sweden FERO - Family Economy Rehabilitation Organization GHC - Gedo Health Consortium GREDO - Gol Yome Rehabilitatation & Development Organisation HANDICAP INTERNATIONAL HAPO CHILD - Hiran HIV/AIDS Prevention and Child Protecton Organisation HARDO - Humanitarian Action for Relief and Development Organisation HIMILO - Himilo Relief and Development Association HISAN HORN RELIEF IAS - International Aid Services IDF - Integrated Development Focus IMC - International Medical Corps INTERPEACE/WSP - Interpeace / War torn Societies INTERSOS IRC - International Rescue Committee IREX - International Research & Exchanges Board ISLAMIC RELIEF KAALO RELIEF AND DEVELOPMENT MAG - Mines Advisory Group MEDAIR MERCY CORPS SOMALIA MERLIN NORWEGIAN CHURCH AID NRC - Norwegian Refugee Council OXFAM INTERNATIONAL PROGRESSIO UK RI - Relief International SAACID AUSTRALIA SAFERWORLD SCUK - Save the Children UK TERRA NUOVA - Terra Nuova Association for International Cooperation to Development VSF SUISSE - Veterinaires Sans Frontieres - Switzerland VSF GERMANY - Veterinaires Sans Frontieres - Germany WELTHUNGERHILFE WOCCA - Women and Child Care Organization WORLD CONCERN WORLD VISION