Nairobi (ANTARA News/AFP) - The International Red Cross said Sunday it had handed out 400 tonnes of food in drought-hit parts of rebel-held southern Somalia as the UN prepares to host emergency talks on the crisis in the region.

"The distribution look place in the Bardera district and passed without incident, with the knowledge of the authorities and the recipients," ICRC spokesman Yves Van Loo told AFP in Nairobi.

It is the first ICRC-led food drop direct to locals in Shebab-controlled zones since 2009, he said, adding that further food drops will take place in the coming days. (*)

Editor: Kunto Wibisono
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