In the past six months Al Shabaab has banned 18 humanitarian organisations from operating in areas under their control. Latest United Nations (UN) figures demonstrate that some 400,000 fewer people are able to access food as a result of these actions. The bans have also led to the closure of nutrition and health centres.The UK is working hard to ensure aid continues to reach those where possible. In the last six months, UK aid has treated over 18,000 starving children, helped provide food for over 300,000 people and vaccinated over 1.3 million children. Despite these successes, gaps remain and the UN estimate that some 2.51 million people remain in need of humanitarian assistance, mostly in southern Somalia.