APNewsBreak: 260,000 died in 2011 Somali famine, new report says; half were 5 and under

NAIROBI, Kenya – Officials in East Africa say a report to be released this week estimates that 260,000 people died in Somalia's 2011 famine, more than double previous estimates.

The report by two U.S. government-funded famine and food agencies gives the highest toll from Somalia's 2011 famine. One previous estimate said between 50,000 and 100,000 people died.

A Western official briefed on the report told The Associated Press that it says 260,000 people died, and that half the victims were 5 and under. Two other international officials briefed on the report confirmed that the toll's report was in the quarter-million range. All three insisted they not be identified because they were not authorized to share the report's contents before it is officially released.