The leader accused Somaliland forces of destroying the hospital’s laboratory, blood bank and patient ward in mortar attacks. “The Somaliland forces stationed outside the city have been ignoring civilian residents and medical facilities indiscriminately. Not a single day passes without shelling and casualties,” he told the AP by phone.
Somaliland’s defense ministry has denied that the hospital was spared, and the government has said it has a “continued commitment” to the ceasefire it announced on February 10. partners warned last month.
Somaliland broke away from Somalia three decades ago as it sought international recognition as an independent country. Somaliland and the Somali state of Puntland have been in dispute over Las Anod for years, but the eastern town has been under Somaliland’s control.
The United Nations mission in Somalia and the UN human rights office said the violence in Las Anod killed at least 80 people between December 28 and February 28 and injured more than 450 non-combatants. -including medical work. The UN has called for respect for medical workers and unhindered humanitarian access.
The conflict in Las-Anod started when an unknown gunman killed a popular young politician in Somaliland’s opposition party as he left a mosque. Protests against Somaliland officials and forces continued in the city.
Somaliland’s government has blamed the fighters’ conflict with “anti-peace and terrorist groups” and said the al-Qaida-linked al-Shabab terrorist group has supported some of attacks.
