The World Food Program (WFP) said Tuesday it has started distributing food aid to 16,000 residents and people returning to districts most heavily damaged by the worst fighting in the Somali capital of Mogadishu in 16 years.

In a statement issued in Nairobi, the world's largest humanitarian lifeline said it expects to have distributed food to a total of 114,000 people who fled the city plus vulnerable people unable to escape the fighting.

"These people are exhausted. Most of them are women and they were either forced to flee their homes with their children during the recent fighting or they stayed in the city throughout the worst bombardments," said WFP Somalia Country Director Peter Goossens in Nairobi.

"These families require food and other assistance after their terrible ordeal," it said,adding that it needs an extra 10 million U.S. dollars in donations for its operation due to the fighting in Mogadishu and displacement of civilians.

UN refugee agency, UNHCR, estimates that 395,000 people fled the city -- over a third of the capital's population -- since Feb. 1. But following the end of heavy fighting, some are now trickling back.

The UN agency said urgent WFP food distributions continue to be expanded given the prevailing security situation in and around the capital.

"We started in the heaviest damaged areas in north Mogadishu, where the fighting was concentrated. But we are also reaching many of those who are still outside Mogadishu and are too frightened to return, but are struggling in terrible conditions under trees in the rain," he said.

A Somali non-governmental organization started distributing WFP maize, nutritious corn-soya blend and vegetable oil on Monday to 7, 000 people at three sites in Mogadishu.

"Distributions are due to start today at another five sites to reach 9,000 others in the capital. WFP on Tuesday also plans to start distributing five tons of food to hospitals in Mogadishu for 1,500 people injured in the fighting," it said.

Distributions of WFP food to 42,000 people displaced southwards from Mogadishu to the port of Merka were completed on Sunday and 9, 000 displaced in Qoryoley district to the southwest of the capital received WFP food on Monday.

WFP said distributions to 13,500 people in Brava town are due to start on Wednesday.

In late April, WFP food was distributed to 32,000 displaced west of the capital shortly before heavy fighting ended in Mogadishu on April 27.

Source: Xinhua