Friday, March 30, 2012
A hospital run by MSF has been hit by shelling, amidst renewed fighting in the Somali capital, Mogadishu.
The emergency room and the surgical ward of Daynile hospital were hit, causing significant damage.
MSF condemns the shelling of the hospital, where it has worked since 2006.
Fighting in Mogadishu
The fighting started on the morning of Friday 30th March in Daynile, a suburb of Mogadishu.
So far there have been no casualties among the hospital’s 19 patients or 48 members of staff (36 medical personnel and 12 guards).
Patients and staff are currently sheltering in the hospital’s internal medicine department.
Respect medical neutrality
MSF calls on all parties to the conflict to respect the neutrality of Daynile hospital, along with that of all medical facilities in Somalia, and to respect the right of patients and staff to safety.
MSF has maintained a continuous presence in Somalia since 1991, and currently runs 13 projects around the country, providing medical services related to the conflict, conducting immunisation campaigns, and running feeding programmes.
MSF also provides aid to Somali refugees in the camps of Dadaab in Kenya and Dolo Ado in Ethiopia.
Abducted MSF staff
MSF aid workers Blanca Thiebaut and Montserrat Serra were abducted in Dadaab, Kenya, on 13th October 2011 while providing humanitarian assistance to Somali refugees.
MSF calls on all Somalis – the diaspora, community leaders and in particular the authorities controlling the area where its kidnapped colleagues are being held – to do everything possible to facilitate their safe release.