Saturday July 15, 2023
FILE PHOTO - Damage to the Las Anod General Hospital following a suspected shelling.
Hargeisa (HOL) - The Government of the Republic of Somaliland has reacted strongly to a statement from the World Health Organization (WHO), which criticized the recent attacks on healthcare facilities in Las Anod.
"The Government of the Republic of Somaliland is deeply disturbed by the recent statement from the World Health Organization (WHO) about the conflict in Las'anod," the official government statement read. "We have made every effort to protect human lives and civilian infrastructure, including hospitals and healthcare facilities."
This response comes on the heels of a WHO statement that condemned the latest assault on a health facility in Las Anod, which resulted in numerous casualties, including healthcare workers and patients. The WHO noted that the attack also led to the destruction of two ambulances.
"In situations where healthcare systems are already fragile, attacks on healthcare have devastating consequences going beyond the loss of lives of health workers and the patients they might have saved," said Mamunur Rahman Malik, WHO representative for Somalia.
The WHO said that this is the fifth attack on the institution since the unrest in Las Anod erupted earlier this year.
Somaliland, located in northwestern Somalia, declared its independence in 1991 but is yet to gain formal recognition from any other country. Las Anod, the capital of the disputed Sool region, has been under Somaliland's control since 2007. The town is primarily inhabited by the Dhulbahante, part of the larger Darod clan, who have expressed longstanding grievances against the Somaliland administration.
In their statement, the Somaliland government acknowledged the challenges but pledged to provide medical assistance to the people of Las Anod. The government also called on the WHO to collaborate in providing medical aid to those impacted by the violence.
"We remain committed to ensuring that those in need have access to these services and other humanitarian assistance," the statement read. "We encourage the WHO to work with our government to ensure that civilians impacted by the ongoing violence are able to access the medical services they require."
The conflict in Las Anod intensified following the assassination of a Dhulbahante politician in December 2022, sparking widespread protests. Somaliland security forces responded with excessive and lethal force, leading to the deaths and injuries of numerous protesters. In the face of mounting anger and continued protests over the killings, Somaliland authorities withdrew their forces, allowing Dhulbahante clan elders to enter the city and declare their disassociation from Somaliland's administration. However, clashes immediately erupted between Somaliland security forces and armed fighters linked to the Dhulbahante clan, resulting in a full-scale armed conflict. The violence has caused an estimated death toll of around 300 people and displaced approximately 154,000 to 203,000 civilians from their homes. The conflict has triggered international outrage and repeated calls for an immediate resolution.