The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) reported that 42 bodies were retrieved from the frontlines of the tense conflict in Somaliland. They also disclosed that over 300 detainees have been visited in the region on Thursday to support humanitarian purposes and provide information to their families about their whereabouts.
The Red Cross accompanied by the Somali Red Crescent Society transported four wounded prisoners for medical treatment in Qaran Hospital. The teams provided blankets and mattresses to the detainees. Both organizations have a history of supporting hospitals, with the provision of frontline triage and medical supplies.
In the mentioned press release, the Red Cross stated, “In the past week, 110 wounded people were transported to hospital, while 42 dead bodies were collected to assist with the carrying out of dignified and proper burial.”
In addition to medical support, ICRC emphasizes the humane treatment of detainees. Pascal Cuttat, the head of the ICRC delegation in Somalia, stated, “It is crucial that each detainee, from either side, is treated in accordance with international humanitarian law, meaning that every detained person must have access to food and water and must never be subjected to any form of ill-treatment.”
Since Somaliland declared its independence from Somalia in 1991, the region has constantly been mired in conflicts. Recent tensions sparked in Las Anod, the capital of the disputed region. The Dhulbahante accused Somaliland of marginalizing them and targeting Las Anod, according to a report by Amnesty International.
Conflicts escalated following the December 2022 assassination of a Dhulbahante local politician, Abdifatah Abdullahi Abdi, which led to violent clashes between Somaliland security forces and armed Dhulbahante fighters.
Since the beginning of this year, fighting has resulted in mass destruction of property and displacement of hundreds of thousands of people from their homes in Las Anod alone. With families separated, the emotional toll on the affected is incredibly high. Ahmed Said, who supervises ICRC’s operations in the northern part of the country, commented on the anguish of people who do not know what happened to their loved ones.
For more details, read the full report here.