Two Somalis examine the wreckage of a piece of artillery. Because of looting by heavily armed gangs, the distribution of aid approved by the UN in July could not be adequately policed. This situation did not significantly improve until Operation Restore Hope got underway at the end of the year.

A gunman forces back refugees desperate to get to a feeding center. Because of looting by heavily armed gangs, the distribution of aid approved by the UN in July could not be adequately policed. This situation did not significantly improve until Operation Restore Hope got underway at the end of the year.

A jeep drives past the skeleton of a man who died on his way to Baidoa. Because of looting by heavily armed gangs, the distribution of aid approved by the UN in July could not be adequately policed. This situation did not significantly improve until Operation Restore Hope got underway at the end of the year.

The body of a young victim of the famine, who walked all the way to Baidoa but died before she reached the front of the food line. Because of looting by heavily armed gangs, the distribution of aid approved by the UN in July could not be adequately policed. This situation did not significantly improve until Operation Restore Hope got underway at the end of the year.

Outside a feeding center children look through holes in a fence at refugees who are being fed. Because of looting by heavily armed gangs, the distribution of aid approved by the UN in July could not be adequately policed. This situation did not significantly improve until Operation Restore Hope got underway at the end of the year.

At Hawa refugee camp near Mogadishu a child lies dying. Because of looting by heavily armed gangs, the distribution of aid approved by the UN in July could not be adequately policed. This situation did not significantly improve until Operation Restore Hope got underway at the end of the year.

Somali aid workers take it in turn to dig graves at one of the cemeteries. At the time several hundred people died here every day. Because of looting by heavily armed gangs, the distribution of aid approved by the UN in July could not be adequately policed. This situation did not significantly improve until Operation Restore Hope got underway at the end of the year.

Because of looting by heavily armed gangs, the distribution of aid approved by the UN in July could not be adequately policed. This situation did not significantly improve until Operation Restore Hope got underway at the end of the year.

American doctors fight to save the life of a man injured by a grenade. Because of looting by heavily armed gangs, the distribution of aid approved by the UN in July could not be adequately policed. This situation did not significantly improve until Operation Restore Hope got underway at the end of the year.

Somali aid workers take it in turn to dig graves at one of the cemeteries. At the time several hundred people died here every day. Because of looting by heavily armed gangs, the distribution of aid approved by the UN in July could not be adequately policed. This situation did not significantly improve until Operation Restore Hope got underway at the end of the year.

In the market-place children play on the barrel of a tank, a silent witness to the civil war. Because of looting by heavily armed gangs, the distribution of aid approved by the UN in July could not be adequately policed. This situation did not significantly improve until Operation Restore Hope got underway at the end of the year.

Because of looting by heavily armed gangs, the distribution of aid approved by the UN in July could not be adequately policed. This situation did not significantly improve until Operation Restore Hope got underway at the end of the year.

Nature - 1st prize