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The safe return of displaced people in Yemen is at risk because of landmines and other explosive remnants of war, according to the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

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The parties involved in conflict in Yemen have committed to end the recruitment and use of child soldiers.

That's what Leila Zerrougui, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict told reporters on Monday following her trip to the Middle Eastern country.

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The people of Yemen are due to go to vote in presidential elections on 21 February.

They are being held under a deal that was reached last year after months of protests against the 33-year rule of President Ali Abdullah Saleh.

Hundreds of people died and thousands of others were wounded as President Saleh’s government tried to suppress protests against his rule.

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Time is ticking for Yemen, a country on the brink of a serious food crisis.

The United Nations today said the humanitarian situation is deteriorating by the day and that more needs to be done to avert the crisis caused by rising food prices, and the political deadlock in the country.

Pro-democracy protests erupted in January this year, demanding President Ali Abdullah Saleh to step down.

It is becoming more difficult to deliver humanitarian aid in Somalia, according to the United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator for Somalia. Mark Bowden, who briefed reporters in Geneva on Wednesday, says 2009 was probably the most acute year in the crisis faced by Somalia. Sixty per cent of the population, he said, had to receive assistance.

He says there are very serious levels of malnutrition in the population and it is becoming more difficult to reach those who need help most.

The UN food agency - WFP says up to 100,000 people are reportedly on the move desperately seeking sanctuary in safer areas of Sa'ada governorate, as a result of fighting between government forces and rebels in north-western Yemen.

WFP estimates that the number of internally displaced persons - IDPs could rise to 150,000.

Spokeswoman Emilia Casella says the extremely volatile security situation in Sa'ada town has forced relief agencies to temporarily relocate their staff.