Friday September 1, 2023
Mogadishu (HOL) - The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) on Friday said that it had visited more than 300 detainees who were captured in the recent clashes between the Somaliland army and SCC-Khatumo forces in Las Anod town over the weekend.
The head of the ICRC delegation in Somalia, Pascal Cuttat, stated that the Geneva-based organization had also previously visited Hargeisa Central Prison, where SSC Khatumo inmates are held, but did not specify the number of detainees observed in the capital of Somaliland.
The International Committee of the Red Cross underlined that 43 bodies have been collected from the front line. At the same time, 110 wounded people have been taken to hospitals by the Somali Red Crescent Society.
"It is crucial that each detainee, from either side, is treated in accordance with international humanitarian law. This means that every detained person must have access to food and water and must never be subject to any form of ill-treatment," said Pascal Cuttat, the head of the ICRC delegation in Somalia.
The purpose of these visits is purely humanitarian, to ensure that all detainees are treated humanely and that their families know their whereabouts.
To improve the living conditions of detainees, ICRC teams also distributed blankets and mattresses to detention facilities in Las Anod. Additionally, in collaboration with the Somali Red Crescent Society (SRCS), the ICRC facilitated the transfer of four wounded prisoners to Qaran Hospital in Garowe, where they received specialized treatment.
Because of the fighting in and around Las Anod, many civilians lost contact with their family members. "Not knowing what happened to their loved ones is causing an incredible amount of anguish to people," said Ahmed Said, who oversees ICRC's operations in the northern part of the country. "Our offices in Hargeisa and Garowe, together with the SRCS, are trying to help people find their family members."
The conflict between the Somaliland army and SSC-Khatumo fighters erupted in February this year, displacing hundreds of thousands of individuals from their homes. Las Anod, the capital of the Sool region, has become the primary battleground, resulting in extensive damage to civilian infrastructure.
The conflict between the Somaliland army and fighters loyal to SSC-Khatumo escalated last week, with the local fighters claiming to have seized the Gojacade base on the outskirts of Las Anod town.
International partners have strongly condemned the escalation of conflict between the Somali army and local fighters in Somaliland's Las Anod town in northern Somalia.