Two injured after landmine hits UN convoy outside Mogadishu

Two people were injured in landmine explosion that hit a WFP convoy in the outskirt of Somali capital, Mogadishu Sunday.

UN’s World Food Programme (WFP), spokesperson Amor Almagro said the attack happened on Sunday as the convoy returned from a drought-affected area outside Mogadishu.

Almagro says the explosion struck 100 meters behind vehicles leading the injuries of the two guards.

“We are investigating the incident including whether or not the convoy was the intended target,” said Almagro.

She says the occupants of the WFP vehicles were uninjured, with the two private security guards suffering only minor injuries.

”The occupants of the WFP vehicles are all safe although two private security guards were slightly wounded,” confirmed Almagro.

The official said the two Somali security guards suffered minor injuries.

“We are also concerned about the welfare of innocent bystanders who may have been harmed by the blast,” she lamented.

The militant Islamist group Al-Shabaab has reportedly claimed responsibility for the attack.

The group which lost the control of many towns to Au and Somali troops had banned UN and other international NGOs from Southern Somalia.

This marks the first attack against convoy transporting humanitarian aid to the drought affected area since Somali government declared the drought as National Disaster two months ago.