At least 200 children have died of malnutrition and disease since January.

The number of people suffering from food insecurity has increased to seven million people compared to 4.5 million in May.

"While nearly four million people [in Somalia] have received assistance since January, we need much more cash, greater resources to meet growing needs and avert famine,” Stéphane Dujarric, the spokesperson for the UN Secretary General said.

The warning comes as the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization released new figures showing that nearly 10% of the world’s population are affected by hunger.

Eastern Africa and the Sahel are the most affected regions in Africa.