The United States is trying to provide Somalia with up to 100 million U.S. dollars in aid, according to a statement released by the State Department on Saturday.

The U.S. government was "moving forward" with a 40-million- dollar aid package for Somalia and had asked Congress to provide a further 60 million dollars, the statement said.

"This assistance will be used to support development and security needs, to assist in the deployment of the African Union Mission in Somalia stabilization force, and to provide humanitarian assistance."

Washington made the pledge at the time when U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Jendayi Frazer arrived in Mogadishu Saturday on an unannounced visit to Somalia.

Frazer, the highest-ranking Washington official to visit Somalia since 1994, urged the world community to pay attention to the worsening situation in Somalia. She called for more support for African Union peacekeepers in the war-torn country.

Previously, she said that the U.S. administration would use its diplomatic and financial resources to support Somalia's government and prevent a slide back into chaos.

Somalia has been torn apart by warlords and other factions since the country's strongman Mohammed Siad Barre was toppled in 1991. The transitional government created in 2004 has failed to impose any control.

Source: Xinhua