Six international locations challenge joint assertion over clashes round city of Lascanood between Somaliland and Puntland forces.
Qatar, Somalia, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, the UK and america have expressed concern over preventing round a disputed city in Somalia’s northern breakaway area of Somaliland, the place at least 34 people were killed in clashes in early February.
Rigidity has risen between Somaliland and the semi-autonomous state of Puntland for the reason that finish of final yr, and heavy preventing has damaged out across the city of Lascanood, which straddles a key commerce route and is claimed by each territories.
“The companions expressed concern concerning the ongoing battle in and round Lascanood and known as on all events to stick to the ceasefire, de-escalate, permit unhindered humanitarian entry, and interact in constructive and peaceable dialogue,” the six international locations stated in a joint statement launched by the US State Division on Tuesday.
Combating across the city erupted in early February after elders in three provinces of Somaliland — together with Sool Province, the place Lascanood is situated — introduced that they needed to rejoin Somalia and issued a press release pledging assist for Somalia’s federal authorities.
Somaliland, a area of 4.5 million individuals, claimed independence from Somalia in 1991 and has been comparatively steady as compared with its Somali neighbour, which has witnessed many years of civil battle.
Somaliland’s quest for statehood has gone unrecognised nevertheless, leaving it poor and remoted internationally regardless that it prints its personal foreign money, points its personal passports and elects its own government.
Somaliland authorities introduced a ceasefire on February 10, however each side accused the opposite of violating it.
Ahmed Mohamed Hassan, director of the primary hospital in Lascanood, advised the AFP information company by phone final week that the medical facility had been bombarded.
“They’ve destroyed the electrical energy system of the hospital, the oxygen system, the blood financial institution, the workplace of the human assets and different components of the hospital constructing,” he advised reporters.
UPDATE: Lascanod’s most important hospital has been hit throughout a shelling marketing campaign within the ongoing battle between Somalia’s semi-autonomous Somaliland and Puntland areas. Medical officers report dozens killed. https://t.co/bn99c0TJxj
— Simon Marks (@MarksSimon) February 28, 2023
Native media in Somaliland tweeted a denial — attributed to the Ministry of Defence — of Somaliland’s involvement in assaults on hospitals and colleges.
UPDATE
We wish to make it very clear to the individuals of Somaliland and the worldwide group that Nationwide Military have by no means focused group amenities like hospitals and colleges. pic.twitter.com/Ix1THyYppr
— Somaliland Nationwide TV (@SLNTV) February 28, 2023
The UN stated final week that greater than 185,000 individuals had been uprooted from their properties owing to the clashes, with assist staff struggling to answer the scenario as a consequence of insufficient assets.
Girls and youngsters accounted for an estimated 89 % of the displaced inhabitants, the UN’s Workplace for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs stated in a press release. Many had been reportedly in search of shelter underneath bushes or inside colleges, which have been compelled to close.
Along with these displaced inside Somaliland, greater than 60,000 others have fled to Ethiopia’s Somali area to flee the violence, the UN’s refugee company stated.
UN human rights chief Volker Turk this month known as on authorities to conduct a “credible and neutral investigation” into the clashes and warned that they compounded the already fragile humanitarian scenario within the area.
