Global Arab Network | Fears of more clashes as war-wounded overwhelm hospitals in Mogadishu

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Fears of more clashes as war-wounded overwhelm hospitals in Mogadishu

SOMALIA_-Fears_of_more_clashes_as_war-wounded_overwhelm_hospitals

Scores of civilians are fleeing their homes in the Madina, district of the Somali capital Mogadishu, amid fears of clashes between armed forces massing in the area, witnesses told IRIN. "Many families, including those who fled other parts of the city to seek safety here, have already left and many more are leaving," Faduma Mohamed, a resident, said.

"Both sides have been bringing in forces," Mohamed said. "There is too much movement of troops and the atmosphere is one of war. We don't know when it will begin but we know it is coming."

Mohamed pointed out that in her area only three families - including her own - were left. "My children are becoming very anxious but I cannot afford to leave."

Forces loyal to the interim government are massing in Madina, southwest of the city, in anticipation of a showdown with insurgents, allegedly supported by foreign forces.

Madina and the areas around it have so far escaped the fighting and many families from north and south Mogadishu had sought refuge there.

A local journalist told IRIN that people had been leaving the area for the past three days.

"Unfortunately it looks likely that Madina will suffer the same fate as other parts of the city. There will no longer be a safe neighbourhood in Mogadishu," he said.

An estimated 62,000 people have fled their homes since the latest fighting flared on 7 May, according to the UN Refugee Agency, UNHCR.

Hospitals over-stretched

Hospitals in the capital are overwhelmed by the number of injured seeking treatment since fighting intensified, medical sources told IRIN.

"We are over-stretched in terms of space and staff," Dahir Mohamed, deputy director of Madina hospital - the largest in the city - told IRIN on 27 May.

He said the numbers of people seeking treatment was growing daily and all the wards were full. "We have set up sheds outside for the extra load."

Mohamed said entire families were now staying in hospitals. "We have a mother and father who were injured and the children are here as well because there is no one to look after them. We cannot tell them to leave. They have nowhere to go.”

Many families were also seeking shelter in the hospitals. "They feel safer here. They are afraid to go out there," he added.

Ali Bile, the head of Keysaney hospital, said it was caring for twice its capacity. He warned that if the fighting continued, it would be forced to set up tents. "We will have to cope somehow. We cannot turn them away."

Both said the hospitals had sufficient drugs to deal with the influx, thanks to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

"At the moment we have enough drugs. ICRC has been providing us with all the drugs we need," said Bile.

"But manpower and space are increasingly becoming a major problem," added Mohamed. (IRIN)

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