Nairobi/Geneva (ICRC) – In response to ongoing armed clashes in the Middle Juba region of southern Somalia, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has sent urgently needed emergency medical supplies over the past few days to various medical facilities on both sides of the front line in Kismayo, Afmadow and Dhobley.
"More than 100 wounded people, mainly civilians, reached the medical facilities during the most recent phase of the fighting," said Randi Jensen, an ICRC nurse. "It has become very dangerous for patients to reach the few clinics available to them and we just don't know how many more wounded are still out there, desperately waiting to get help."
The ICRC provided Kismayo Hospital with one tonne of supplies for the surgical treatment of casualties. In addition, it delivered a total of 300 kilograms of other medical supplies to the hospital and to local clinics in the Dobley and Afmadow areas.
In cooperation with local treatment facilities, the ICRC will continue to closely assess surgical and other medical needs in the coming days and weeks.
The ICRC calls on all warring parties to comply with the rules of international humanitarian law by taking constant care in the conduct of military operations to spare those not or no longer taking direct part in the hostilities, including civilians and the wounded.
For further information, please contact:
Yves van Loo, ICRC Somalia, tel: +254 736 084 015
Marçal Izard, ICRC Geneva, tel: +41 22 730 25 48 or +41 79 217 32 24