SOS-Kinderdorf International
Hilary Atkins
Friday, April 20, 2007
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During a day of heavy fighting in Mogadishu, four shells exploded in the SOS Children's Village Mogadishu.
The SOS Children's Village Mogadishu was under siege yesterday when four missile shells exploded in the project grounds during heavy fighting around the village. Two of the shells landed on the deserted football pitch, a third destroyed part of the wall between the school and the football pitch and a fourth landed in the teachers' houses. Fortunately the school is closed for the holidays and the teachers are away. Thus no one was injured.advertisements
A safe haven, a formerly disused building, now heavily reinforced with concrete, has been organised for children and staff of the village to which they retreated during the fighting.
According to project director Claudio Croce stray bullets also landed in the compound, resulting from nearby gunfire. Because of the fighting, staff who live outside the compound are not able to come to work. This is also affecting the hospital which is still open, but due to a shortage of medical personnel, is not fully functional.
Croce added that the situation in Mogadishu is chaotic. Besides the fighting between the transitional government, backed by Ethiopian forces and former elements of the Islamic Courts, clan warfare has also broken out and many of the people from these clans live in the vicinity of the village. He likened the situation to the beginnings of a guerrilla war.
The SOS Children's Village meanwhile is fully operational and contingency plans remain in place to protect the 82 children, 13 youth and approximately 30 co-workers who live in the village.
Source: SOS, April 20, 2007