The civil war has been raging in Somalia for twenty years and sees no sign of abating with al-Shabab embedding itself in central and southern Somalia and amassing fighters that the internationally recognised Transitional Government appears powerless to either stop or repel. Indeed there are reports of government troops defecting to al-Shabab and helping enforce strict Sharia law throughout held areas. The streets of cities like Mogadishu are literally war zones where only the brave, or perhaps the foolhardy, dare to tread.

Achieving humanitarian intervention in Somalia is set against this backdrop of danger to humanitarian aid workers with thirteen such workers killed since 2009 and many more injured and abducted. Nevertheless agencies such as UNICEF remain committed to the area and its people's in an attempt to achieve positive outcomes, or at least mitigate against the worst effects, for the millions affected there, particular children.

It is known that some 200,000 children in Somalia have been directly involved in the fighting with many killed in recent years. “Putting children in the line of fire, killing and maiming them in the context of an armed conflict are among the most serious violations of international law which all parties to the conflict are expected to uphold. The use and recruitment of children under the age of 15 years is a war crime,” said Rozanne Chorlton, UNICEF's representative to Somalia.

As a result of this ongoing war, nearly 1.5 million Somalia children live their lives at risk of death, famine, malnutrition and abuse. This video shows the work being undertaken buy UNICEF to help these children and the difference the intervention is making into so many children's lives.