The United Nations Population Funds (UNFPA) has said that women and girls are the ones bearing the brunt of the ongoing armed conflict in Somalia’s Las’anod city.

Development Diaries reports that over 170 people have been killed and over 500 injured in Las’anod following clashes between Somaliland troops and local fighters after weeks of unrest.

According to media reports, residents are in danger of being hit by mortar fire and bullets as the situation remains volatile, and fighting may occur at any moment.

More than 50 schools have been closed, affecting the education of over 15,000 children, and an estimated 185,282 individuals have been displaced.

With five consecutive failed rainy seasons, Somalia is grappling with the longest and most severe drought as over 7.8 million people in the country are in need of humanitarian aid.

‘The newly displaced families do not have access to adequate housing, with the majority co-habiting with relatives and host communities, while some are staying in rented places’, UNFPA said in a statement.

‘High shortages of medical materials and drugs have also been reported in hospitals in Puntland, and there is a need for urgent medical supplies.

‘Due to the increased movement of families, the protection risks for children, and incidents of family separation also remain high.

‘Women and girls have faced the most severe protection concerns during the conflict due to the loss of shelter, essential food, and non-food items.

‘The situation is compounded by the prolonged drought, leaving them at heightened risk of malnutrition, disease outbreaks, and hunger due to difficulties in accessing essential life-saving services such as adequate and safe shelters, latrines, and essential food and non-food items’.

It is understood that the UNFPA plans to deploy integrated outreach mobile services to serve women of reproductive age to ensure that women and girls receive life-saving reproductive health services.

Photo source: UNFPA