ICRC urges all sides in Somalia to spare civilians
Source: Reuters
GENEVA, Jan 11 (Reuters) - The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) on Thursday urged all sides in Somalia's conflict, including the United States which has carried out an air strike targeting al Qaeda suspects, to spare civilians. In a statement, the humanitarian agency voiced concern at the growing number of victims and said that 850 wounded -- both civilians and fighters -- had been admitted to medical facilities in central and southern Somalia in recent weeks. "The ICRC once again calls on all parties to the hostilities to ensure that captured and wounded fighters are treated humanely and receive adequate medical attention and that medical staff, hospitals and clinics are respected and protected," it said. It urged "all parties involved in the military operations to take every precaution to spare and protect civilians". The United States on Monday hit a village in southern Somalia in an attempt to take out an al Qaeda cell accused of bombing two U.S. embassies in 1998 and an Israeli-owned hotel in 2002. Its ally Ethiopia continued air attacks in Somalia on Tuesday and Wednesday in pursuit of fleeing Islamist fighters. The air strikes had resulted in "further casualties" in the southern part of Somalia, where essential health services are virtually "non-existent", according to the ICRC. The nearest hospital is in Kismayo, a day or two days' journey north. "Obviously this concerns the United States in as much as they are involved in air strikes there. Our message is also to the Somali transitional authority, to the Ethiopian forces that have intervened alongside them, and (Islamist) fighters on the ground," ICRC spokesman Vincent Lusser said. "We've been in contact with all sides in the conflict," he said, noting all were bound by international humanitarian law. The ICRC said it had supplied 16.5 tonnes of first-aid kits, surgical supplies and medicines to 23 clinics run by the Somali Red Crescent Society and three hospitals in Mogadishu. Three ICRC expatriate officials -- a surgeon, an anaesthetist and a nurse -- are working alongside 20 Somali medical staff, according to the statement. Many of the injured left hospital before their treatment was complete, while others never reach a medical facility due to the fighting and insecurity, the agency said. "Fewer people would die if they had timely access to medical care," it added.
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