Somalia called for international aid groups to create a new force to protect food envoys and camps in the famine-stricken nation, declaring a state of emergency in parts of Mogadishu.
The threat of suicide bombings and other guerilla-style attacks remains strong, despite the fact that rebel forces have largely retreated from the capital.
A 9,000-strong African peacekeeping force has, along with the government, conceded that they do not control the whole of the capital even after the rebel withdrawal, bad news for the thousands of Somali refugees arriving at the capital daily.
The Prime Minister of Somalia, Abdiweli Mohamed Ali, held a news conference with Valerie Amos, an emergency relief coordinator for the United Nations.
"We met today with Valerie Amos... we have discussed the current humanitarian situation in Somalia and the best way that we can assist with humanitarian aid to the people," Ali said, according to Reuters.
"We have also raised the issue of creating a special humanitarian force, which has dual purposes. First to secure and protect the food aid convoy, and to protect the camps and stabilize the city and fight banditry and looting."
Ali did not specify who would make up such a force.
