(08-07-23) MOGADISHU – According to SSC-Khaatumo Council, the Somaliland military has indiscriminately shelled the city from the east and north, causing extensive damage and the death of three aid workers and five civilians. This aggressive onslaught has caused significant damage and led to numerous casualties, including civilians and healthcare workers.
A brazen attack unfolded on Saturday, with the Somaliland military targeting a mosque, a hospital, and various civilian buildings. Eyewitnesses describe scenes of chaos and fear gripping their communities. These harrowing incidents occurred mere days after a threat was issued by General Taani, the commander of the Somaliland army, to launch an all-out offensive against Las Anod.
A medical facility run by the Red Cross in Las Anod was deliberately targeted, tragically resulting in the death of three aid workers and five civilians wounding numerous civilians. Eyewitness accounts also detail the devastating destruction of an orphanage by heavy artillery fire. Additional public properties, including gas stations and mosques, have borne the brunt of this widespread devastation.
In a disturbing development, eyewitnesses reported that the Somaliland militia has once again focused their aggression on the city’s general hospital and its newly built laboratory. This essential healthcare facility, which had previously been destroyed and painstakingly rebuilt by local residents, now lies in ruins. “The surgical and inpatient departments are severely damaged. It’s unimaginable,” one local resident lamented.
The hospital’s bombardment has led to numerous injuries, with medical workers among those most severely affected. The precise death toll from these artillery attacks remains uncertain at this time, further heightening the city’s palpable sense of fear and anxiety.
Eyewitnesses also reported exchanges of mortar fire between SSC-Khatumo and Somaliland forces on the outskirts of Las Anod. Sporadic gunfire was heard across various areas, particularly to the east and west of the city.
