Hospitals across parts of Somalia are struggling to cope with a rising number of wounded as fighting has sharply escalated since the start of the year, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) reported on Friday.
Recent attacks, including a roadside bomb that narrowly missed the president’s convoy last month, have heightened concerns about the potential resurgence of insurgent groups, despite progress made by Somali forces and international allies.
For over 15 years, Al-Shabaab, an Al-Qaeda-linked militant group, fought against the federal troops, but in 2022 and 2023, they were pushed onto the defensive by Somali forces supported by African Union-led peacekeepers.
The ICRC issued a statement, noting that several regions of Somalia have seen a sharp rise in hostilities, and hospitals near active front lines are struggling to manage the increased demand for medical care.
“We have witnessed a significant rise in the number of weapon-wounded patients being treated in the medical facilities we support since the beginning of the year,” the statement read.
In Mogadishu, the Madina Hospital, which is supported by the ICRC, has treated 203 wounded patients, a 26% increase from the previous three months.
The ICRC also reported that the Middle and Lower Shabelle regions in southern Somalia have seen a marked escalation in fighting since March, leading to further displacements and civilian casualties.
Military operations continue in the Bari region of Puntland, while clashes frequently erupt in the Sool and Sanaag regions in the north, according to the ICRC.
This surge in fighting has displaced over 100,000 people, the organisation said.
Earlier this month, Al-Shabaab militants launched multiple rocket attacks near Mogadishu’s airport, disrupting international flights. The group has also seized several key locations in Middle and Lower Shabelle, coastal areas to the east and west of the capital.
A bomb blast in March narrowly missed the convoy of President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, underlining the persistent threat posed by Al-Shabaab to the capital.
