The United Nations Secretary General, Antonio Guterres has made an unannounced visit to Somalia’s capital Mogadishu, highlighting the scale of the humanitarian crisis in the Horn of Africa.

Mr Guterres was received by Somalia’s Foreign Minister Abshir Omar Huruse and other leaders.

Officials imposed a security lockdown on Mogadishu, the capital, for the visit, with most roads closed and public transport restricted.

The visit comes amid a government major offensive against Al Shabab Islamist insurgents.

Somalia is one of the countries worst-affected by the most severe drought to hit the Horn of Africa region in decades, after six consecutive failed rainy seasons.

The drought has wiped out livestock and crops and displaced at least 1.7 million people from their homes in search of food and water.

No fewer than 43,000 people died in Somalia last year as a result of low rainfall and decimated harvests.

Half of the victims are thought to be children under the age of five and fatalities are continuing to rise.