The latest edition of the UN's monthly report on the humanitarian situation in Somalia said current infection rates were relatively low in areas where testing has been done compared to other parts of Africa, but could rise dramatically.

"The findings show that HIV will soon become a major health problem if concerted efforts are not put in place to contain the vulnerability factors fueling the epidemic," the report said, citing a survey carried out in 2004.

The survey found Somalia's average HIV infection rate to be 0.9 percent but with "zonal variations," particularly in its two self-declared autonomous regions of Puntland and Somaliland, where the average was one and 1.4 percent respectively.

Poor education, high mobility, the transfusion of unsafe blood and negative cultural practices, including female circumcision and commercial sex, were some of the "vulnerability factors" the report said needed to be addressed.

Somalia, a nation of about 10 million people, has been without a functioning government since the 1991 ouster of dictator Mohamed Siad Barre plunged the Horn of Africa country into anarchy.

Humanitarian groups have in the past warned of a possible explosion of HIV/AIDS when tens of thousands of Somali refugees return home if current efforts to restore a government succeed.

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