A United Nations report says almost 260,000 people died of hunger during the last famine in Somalia, from 2010 - 2012. The figure is much higher than previous estimates.
The British government had estimated that between 50,000 - 100,000 people died in the famine.
The BBC reports the crisis was caused by a severe drought, worsened by conflict between rival groups fighting for power.
Britain is to host a conference next week on Somalia's future.
Drought in 2011 affected more than 13 million people across the Horn of Africa. The UN declared the famine was over in February 2012.
An estimated 220,000 people died during a previous famine in 1992.
