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BBC Africa analyst Martin Plaut says this marks a considerable change in policy from Washington. The UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs for Somalia said the ongoing conflict in Somalia had made it extremely difficult for agencies to access communities in the south, which are controlled by al-Shabab. Save the Children's Sonia Zambakides told the BBC the situation in Somalia was shocking. "If we don't act now, famine will spread to all eight regions of southern Somalia within two months, due to poor harvests and infectious disease outbreaks," said the UN humanitarian co-ordinator for Somalia, Mark Bowden. She said there had been a "surge of inquiries and requests for assistance from the public and solicitors". The protester accused of throwing shaving foam at Rupert Murdoch is charged with a public order offence