Somalia's militant Islamist group al-Shabab has lifted a ban on foreign aid agencies, as the region is hit by its worst drought in 60 years. Al-Shabab imposed the ban in 2009, accusing them of being anti-Muslim. It now says all charities, whether "Muslims or non-Muslims", can give emergency aid as long as they have "no hidden agenda". About a quarter of Somalis have been displaced by the drought, with many fleeing to neighbouring countries. An al-Shabab spokesman, Sheik Ali Mohamud Rage, said the group had formed a committee to deal with the drought and aid agencies would have to liaise with it. Embarrassed "Whether they are Muslims or non-Muslims, [if] their intention is only to assist those suffering, they can contact the committee which will give them access to the drought-hit areas," Mr Rage said at a press conference in the capital, Mogadishu. "Anyone with no hidden agenda will be assisted... and those who intend to harm our people will be prevented to do so," he said. Analysts say the move may have been prompted by the embarrassment al-Shabab feels about the exodus of Somalis leaving areas they control in search of food. However, it is not clear how charities will operate, as al-Shabab wants them to give emergency relief with its approval, they say. Al-Shabab rules over large swathes of south and central Somalia. It is fighting for Islamic rule in Somalia, and warned aid agencies in 2009 not to work with the weak central government, which only controls parts of the capital. An estimated 12 million people in the Horn of Africa have been hit by this year's drought. Its effects have been compounded by the violence in Somalia, which has been racked by constant war for more than 20 years - its last functioning national government was toppled in 1991. In north-east Kenya's Dadaab refugee camp, some 1,400 refugees from Somalia are arriving every day. Aid agencies fear numbers could rise to half a million. UN officials say more than 50% of Somali children arriving in neighbouring Ethiopia are malnourished. Young children are dying on their way to or within a day of arrival at refugee camps, the officials say. Source: BBC