[NAIROBI, 7 May 2010] The United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator for Somalia, Mr. Mark Bowden, called on the armed groups in Afgooye, whose violent clashes have interrupted the functioning of the main medical clinic in the area, to put down their arms, and allow unfettered humanitarian access and medical activities to resume.

“It’s one of the most basic tenets of the laws of war – not to cause unnecessary suffering by attacking clearly identified medical institutions or medical personnel who are providing relief to those who need it,” said Mr. Bowden. “Those responsible for this should show genuine concern for their Somali fellow citizens, particularly the sick and vulnerable who are in need of care and treatment.”

The Hawa Abdi clinic has been treating the displaced and needy since the early 1990s. As of Friday afternoon, armed groups were occupying the medical compound located in the Afgooye corridor and were holding the clinic’s director. Patients had to be evacuated.

“The humanitarian community is extremely concerned about the impact of this action,” added Mr. Bowden. “Whatever the nature of this dispute, there is no excuse for the lack of command that has allowed the conflict to violate the sanctuary of a health clinic as place of safety for those in need.”

There are approximately 366,000 internally displaced people in temporary settlement along the 13-kilometre corridor between Somali capital of Mogadishu and the town of Afgooye. The majority of them fled the fighting in Mogadishu in 2007-2008 and have been receiving assistance such as tarpaulins and shelter supplies, clean water and latrines and health care from the aid organizations and the United Nations. Malnutrition and sicknesses such as Cholera are a huge concern in the area.