The humanitarian situation in a besieged town located in South-Western Somalia is getting worse, as residents…
The humanitarian situation in a besieged town located in South-Western Somalia is getting worse, as residents and local administration express deep concerns over an imminent disaster.
Hudur district of Bakol region, which is some 376 kilometers (233 miles) northwest of Mogadishu, has been completely surrounded by the al-Shabaab insurgents since April last year after the African Union and Somali government forces took its control without resistance from the terrorists.
Authorities on ground have failed to address the situation though calling for International aid organisations to intervene. But there has been little attention from the humanitarian agencies.
Deputy Mayor of Hudur district Mustafa Aden Bariyow said that the situation is becoming “desperate” and all of the town’s residents were living in alarming conditions, without electricity or access to food and medicine, while speaking to the BBC Somali Service.
‘’There is only one school here which is still providing some basic education and the health centres are facing an acute lack of medical workers and supplies yet others have been already closed.
‘’ Our enemies [Al Shabaab] have blocked all roads but we managed to forcibly open one road recently,’’ he said.
Somali government has been flying in food, medicine and weapons, but residents say the aid isn’t enough, and that many are falling victim to disease.
The militants have on several occasion warned businessmen not to supply food and other essential things to the town, otherwise they will be targeted.
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