UNHCR condemns killings and displacement of civilians in Mogadishu
This is a summary of what was said by UNHCR spokesperson Adrian Edwards – to whom quoted text may be attributed – at today's press briefing at the Palais des Nations in Geneva.
At least 15 people were killed and some 50 injured on Monday during clashes among Transitional Federal Government (TFG) security forces close to Banadir Hospital in south west Mogadishu. We are appalled by the loss of civilian lives and the complete disregard shown for their safety.
This was the worst incident in Mogadishu so far this year, although sadly the Somali capital is no stranger to indiscriminate violence. Last year hundreds of Somalis were killed. According to available UN figures, at least 7,600 people reported weapons-related injuries in Mogadishu - an average of more than 20 wounded a day, and making this the worst year in a decade for civilian casualties. One in five of those injured was a child. The Somali capital is without doubt one of the most deadly cities anywhere.
For the hundreds of thousands of people who make up Mogadishu's civilian population, the situation is intolerable with violations of basic human rights occurring on a daily basis. UNHCR has long advocated that the various warring parties should do more to protect the civilian population. We repeat this today. UNHCR, as part of the UN humanitarian community in Somalia, again and in the strongest of terms urges all armed groups and forces in the capital to make the protection of civilians a top priority. We welcome the initiative of the TFG Ministry of Defence to launch an investigation into this latest incident and look forward to seeing its results. Those responsible should not be allowed to evade justice.
An estimated 4,200 Somalis have been forced to flee their homes in Mogadishu since the start of January. Of them, some 2,600 left the city while others sought refuge in quieter neighbourhoods. We estimate that 1.5 million Somalis are displaced inside the country - many in areas inaccessible to humanitarian workers. More than 650,000 are living as refugees in neighbouring countries. Somalia remains one of the worst and most alarming humanitarian crises that UNHCR faces, generating the largest number of refugees and displaced in the world after Iraq and Afghanistan.
Related news and stories
Thousands of newly arrived Somali refugees in Ethiopia relocated to new settlement
Samira's Story
Drought brings life-threatening food shortages for refugees in Ethiopia
100,000 new Somali refugees arrive in Ethiopia in the past month, UN and partners are calling for urgent funding
UNHCR teams and partners rush assistance to some 100,000 newly arrived Somali refugees in hard-to-reach area of Ethiopia
As the Horn of Africa drought enters a sixth failed rainy season, UNHCR calls for urgent assistance
Your search for « killings and displacement of civilians » matched 603 results. Displaying page 1 of 67 pages.
-
UNHCR condemns killings and displacement of civilians in Mogadishu
4 Feb 2011 ... We are appalled by the loss of civilian lives and the complete disregard shown for their safety. This was the worst incident in Mogadishu so far this year, although sadly the Somali capital is no ...... -
UNHCR condemns killing of civilians in Eastern DRC, seeing new displacement into Burundi
27 Aug 2013 ... UNHCR joins other UN agencies in condemning the killing of civilians during fighting this past weekend between the Congolese Army (FARDC) and the M23 rebel group around Goma, the capital of North Kivu ...... -
Conflict-Related Internal Displacement in Sri Lanka, A study on Forced Displacement, Freedom of Movement, Return and Relocation, Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC), 2007
1 Aug 2007 ... A study on Forced Displacement, Freedom of Movement, Return and Relocation April 2006 – ... rights and safety of civilian populations, including ... disappearances and killings, acute shortages of ...... -
Handbook for the Protection of Internally Displaced Persons
Jun 2010 ... are uprooted from their homes and displaced in their own ... the displacement of 36 million persons worldwide in 2008. Internally displaced persons, or "IDPs," are part of the broader civilian ...... -
Handbook for the Protection of Internally Displaced Persons, Global Protection Cluster, June 2010
Jun 2010 ... are uprooted from their homes and displaced in their own ... the displacement of 36 million persons worldwide in 2008. Internally displaced persons, or "IDPs," are part of the broader civilian ...... -
The end of history? Conflict, displacement and durable solutions in the post-cold war era. Guido Ambroso
May 2011 ... Paper No. 207 The end of history? Conflict, displacement and durable solutions in the ... targeting of civilians and of humanitarian ... It should be stressed that while the killing of ...... -
No. 26: "The Causes, Character and Conduct of Armed Conflict, and the Effects on Civilian Populations, 1990-2010". Theo Farrell and Olivier Schmitt, April 2012
2 Apr 2012 ... Character and Conduct of Armed Conflict, and the Effects on Civilian Populations, 1990-2010 ... and Population Displacement ... lethal in general, killing fewer combatants and ...... -
No. 14: Displacement, Statelessness and Questions of Gender Equality under the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women. Alice Edwards
1 Aug 2009 ... LEGAL AND PROTECTION POLICY RESEARCH SERIES Displacement, Statelessness and Questions of ... It is now well studied that civilian casualties far ... or ‘honour’ killings. 186 3.3.6 Health and ...... -
Forced Displacement and the Promise of Pluralism, 2014 Annual Pluralism Lecture, António Guterres, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, 29 May 2014, Ottawa, Canada.
29 May 2014 ... ... State was not part of their agenda. But the widespread looting and killings committed by the ... targeting civilians and turning against ... behind many of the causes of forced displacement. ......