HEAD OF BRITISH OFFICE HARGEISA CALLS FOR AN END TO INDISCRIMINATE SHELLING OF LAASCAANOOD BY SOMALILAND FORCES

Nearly a month after a war erupted in Laascaanood the impact of the war on the administrative capital of Sool is becoming too conspicuous to be downplayed or denied by the Somaliland Administration. Lizzie Walker, the Head of the British Office Hargeisa, has added her voice to calls for an end to ishelling of the district by Somaliland forces…

“Continued indiscriminate violence & shelling in Las Anod has led to hospitals being hit & MSF suspending operations. Humanitarian actors are working to provide lifesaving assistance. All sides must ensure they are able to do so with unfettered access & safe space to operate” tweeted Lizzie Walker.

According to Médecins Sans Frontières, Laascaanood General Hospital was “hit the fourth time” since 6 February. Several weeks ago, a doctor at the Laascaanood General Hospital lost his life after Somaliland forces indiscriminately shelled hospital premises.

Somaliland forces at the behest of President Muse Bihi Abdi destroyed houses, schools, mosques and business premises in the district. The Mayor of Laascaanood Abdirahim Ali Ismail yesterday released a situation report on the impact of the war on Laascaanood. “210 persons lost their lives in Laascaanood, 600 persons sustained injuries, while 200,000 persons have been displaced as the result of the war in addition to 16,000 small businesses adversely affected by the war” said the Mayor.