Marka — A delegation from the UN agencies of WFP, UNHCR and WHO have flown to visit the city of Merca in lower Shabelle region to assess the situation.

Before entering Merca, the delegates are reported to have visited Shalanbod, a trading outpost outside Merca.

A local government official confirmed Shabelle that the delegates visited the hospital of the city and promised that they would try to help the people in the region which was recently freed from the grip of Alshabab.

Merca is the regional center of lower Shabelle ragion and it was a stronghold of Alshabab until recently taken over by Somali forces backed by the African union forces.

Al shabab banned all UN relief agencies in all areas it was controlling in south and central but the group has lost much of the territory to Somali government.