An activist has discussed the fatal effects of preventing international money transfers between Minnesota and Somalia.

Somali-American community activist Mohamed Hassan told Minnesota Public Radio that many Somali people could lose their lives through lack of money.

"My biggest concern is basically that a lot of people are going to die unnecessarily when they could have been saved by family members abroad and could have been given some money to at least survive to see another day," he said.

He estimates that 90 per cent of Somalia's population (14 million people) rely primarily on sources of income earned by family members outside of Somalia.

US-based Somalis are believed to send about $100 million (£65 million) back home each year – largely from Minnesota.

However, Minnesota banks have decided to close the accounts of the money transfer businesses, known as hawalas, for fear of violating US laws against funding terrorism.

The decision came after two women were convicted after sending more than £5,500 to al-Qaida on the pretence of donating it to charity.

Mr Hassan stressed that, after more than 20 years of conflict, there are no banks or money transfer services in Somalia, and the now-defunct hawalas provided crucial support.

Posted by Emmanuel Addy