As violence escalates in the Somali capital of Mogadishu, CAFOD is providing desperately needed humanitarian assistance to those forced from their homes by the fighting.

During the past two weeks an estimated 173,000 Mogadishu residents have fled the city and arrived in displaced camps.

CAFOD, in partnership with Caritas Somalia, Islamic Relief and Christian Aid, is helping more than 7,500 people at the Hawa Abdi camp, which is 20 kilometres from the capital.

It is the first time that CAFOD has worked in Somalia and security concerns continue to make day to day operations "dangerous and frustrating", the agency said.

Davide Bernocchi, Executive Director of Caritas Somalia, says that he fears that Somalia is moving inextricably toward a humanitarian catastrophe.

"It's very frustrating because the security situation is so bad, aid agencies can't help all those in need," he said. "The obstacles not only stem from the war situation itself but also from the predatory attitude of those for whom the displaced are either a lucrative business or nothing at all."

CAFOD's medical coordinator had to rush back to the capital a few days ago, after his teenage daughter had been hit in the head by a stray bullet. She survived but needs to be urgently transferred to Nairobi, "which is in itself another challenge," said Bernocchi.

Nik Bredholt, CAFOD's regional humanitarian coordinator for East Africa said: "The hope that the people had nine months ago when the transitional government took over Mogadishu has been eroded in the intervening months as the conflict has spiralled into extreme violence.

"The clear sign that things are really bad at the moment is the numbers of people fleeing. The United Nations High Commission for Refugees estimates that each day around 1,200 Somali refugees arrive in Kenya."

The UN special representative for Somalia, Ahmedou Ould-Abdallah this week said, "The humanitarian situation in Somalia is the worst in Africa, and I am talking about food security, malnutrition, and all these issues. The current crisis in Mogadishu can only make it worse."