Mortar hits orphans' home
13/11/2007
Renewed fighting broke out in Mogadishu, capital of Somalia last weekend, with shells seriously affecting civilians, including the SOS Children's Village in the city.
During the afternoon of 10 November, four mortar shells hit the village. One security guard was seriously injured and was admitted to the Red Cross Hospital in Mogadishu. Another security guard, one SOS mother and a child received minor injuries and have been treated at the nearby SOS Hospital. No serious damage to the children's village itself has been reported. The fighting was shortlived, lasting only 45 minutes, but the damage the mortars may have done to the ongoing safety and mental well-being of the children in SOS Children's care could be far longer lasting.
This is the second time this year the SOS Children's Village has been hit by mortar shells, but the first time that an SOS mother and child have been directly injured as a result. In April this year, the village and SOS Hospital, which neighbours the village, were hit by mortar shells that destroyed a hospital ward and partly destroyed an unoccupied teacher's house. Shells also hit the football field, which was not being used at the time. The children's village was temporarily evacuated while mothers and children were moved to a relatively safe area. Co-workers, mothers and children returned to the village in early May, but since then have lived with the constant tension of road blocks, nearby government and Ethiopian troops and sporadic fighting between troops and insurgents. This latest attack is, however, the first time since April that fighting has directly affected the project.
SOS Children's Villages is monitoring the situation and will take all necessary precautions to protect the children and co-workers.
Relevant Countries: Somalia.