Somalia: MSF sees surge in wounded and displaced as violence increases in Mogadishu

Somalia | 02 October 2008

The recent escalation in fighting in one of Mogadishu’s most populated residential areas has resulted in a surge in the number of wounded and has, once again, displaced thousands of people. MSF is treating the wounded and is providing basic relief supplies to the newly displaced.

As of last week, MSF had treated more than 100 wounded in the Dayniile hospital, located on the outskirts of the capital. These people, many of them women and children under 16, have suffered head, abdomen and chest injuries caused by mortar rounds or bullets. Many required emergency surgery.

On the road from Mogadishu to Afgooye, where more than 250,000 displaced people are living in appalling conditions, at least 9,000 more people have arrived since last Wednesday. Teams are providing them with essential supplies including soap, plastic sheeting and blankets, however these basic items will only meet the initial emergency needs. People are completely dependent on external food aid to survive, but this aid is distributed intermittently and at random. Families fleeing violence in Mogadishu lack shelter, food and healthcare.

Kenneth Lavelle, MSF’s head of mission based in Nairobi, is in daily contact with the field teams. “The situation is appalling,” he said. “Because of the constant flow of people fleeing Mogadishu, the camps are getting more and more crowded and already atrocious living conditions are rapidly deteriorating. Families of five have less than a few square meters to settle in, without proper shelter.”

MSF has been active in the Hawa Abdi and Afgooye health centres since 2007 and has treated more than 1,000 children suffering from acute malnutrition every month since April 2008. Working conditions, mainly the lack of security for the population and for aid workers, prevent any significant increase in this vital aid.

“Despite all of the insecurity, MSF has still been able to respond thanks to our Somali colleagues, who are taking tremendous risks to provide immediate assistance,” said Lavelle. “Due to the security situation, we are unable to meet any needs other than the immediate, life-saving needs. This includes medical care, nutrition, and sanitation. Our response is most certainly inadequate when taking into account the gravity of the situation.”

MSF staff in Dayniile hospital have treated 3,700 people suffering from trauma injuries since the beginning of 2008. More than half of these are women and children under 14, with half of patients treated for injuries sustained during the fighting.

MSF has cared for 6,937 children suffering from acute malnutrition in its Hawa Abdi and Afgooye health centers since April 2008. The organization provided 32,982 medical consultations during that period.