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ICRC calls for protection of civilians and medical staff in central Somalia conflict

Storyline:National News, Security
Residents from Galkaayo receive food and medical aid from ICRC following the conflict in the town. File Photo: ICRC / Feisal Mohamed Mukhtar
Residents from Galkaayo receive food and medical aid from ICRC following the conflict in the town. File Photo: ICRC / Feisal Mohamed Mukhtar

The humanitarian agency ICRC has called for protection of civilians, health care staff and medical facilities in Galkaayo following fighting there which has claimed dozens of lives and injured close to 100 people.

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) called on parties to the conflict not to target vulnerable groups and medical facilities.

“It’s vital that the civilians caught in conflict – families, mothers, and children – be allowed to move out of the conflict zone safely. Civilians, as well as medical professionals, are not part of the conflict and must not be targeted,” said Jordi Raich Curco, the ICRC Head of Delegation for Somalia.

Puntland leader Abdiweli Gaas said Monday they had agreed with his Galmudug counterpart Abdikarin Guled and Prime Minister Abdirashid Sharmarke to meet in Galkaayo Friday to hold peace talks.

The remarks follow a teleconference talks between Gaas, Guled, Sharmarke and UN envoy to Somalia Michael Keating and military commanders from both states where they agreed to a cessation of hostilities.

Thousands of people have been displaced in the one month long fighting with both parties accusing each other of fueling the conflict.

Barely a week ago,Guled and Gaas announced they had reached an agreement to end the fighting following talks in Abu Dhabi under the auspices of the Emirati government.