said Monday the enormous needs of the Somali people are not being met, and the next four months will be critical to stablizing the situation. He added that that UN workers have been able to increase activities in recent weeks because of increased funding from donor countries.

The UN has appealed for $1.1 billion to help Somalia and has raised about 60% of that amount.

The African Union said last month at a donors conference that it has raised more than $350 million in cash for drought and famine relief. The AU has been criticized for its slow response to the crisis, which has forced hundreds of thousands of Somalis to flee their homes in search of food and water. Before the conference, the 54-member bloc had pledged only $500,000 in aid.

The United States has pledged more than $500 million in food and refugee assistance. The European Union and its member countries have pledged more than $750 million, while the Organization of the Islamic Conference has pledged $350 million.

The extreme drought has also affected parts of Kenya, Ethiopia, Eritrea and Djibouti.