The Indian Ocean tsunami has ripped open rusting drums containing nuclear waste and spread radiation along parts of the Somali coastline.

UN environmental officers say that several Somalis in the northern area are showing symptoms of radiation sickness.

Local warlords have received large sums of money in the past from Swiss and Italian firms for being allowed to dump their unwanted atomic waste in the country.

*Read Dick Durham’s account of the first Sunsail charter in Thailand since the Boxing Day tsunami in the April issue on sale 10 March.