Fighting in Mogadishu has killed 230 civilians and displaced 23,000 since the extremist Shebab launched an offensive against the government two weeks ago, the UN refugee agency said Tuesday.
The fighting for control of the capital pitting the Al Qaeda-inspired rebels against Western-backed government troops assisted by an African Union mission has been the deadliest in months.
"UNHCR is alarmed by the further deterioration we are seeing in the situation in Somalia's capital, Mogadishu," said Melissa Fleming, spokeswoman of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees.
"Fighting over the past two weeks between the transitional government and (the) Shebab has cost more than 230 civilian lives with at least 400 people wounded and 23,000 displaced," she added.
Fleming did not provide a breakdown of the death toll but several civilians, including women and children, were among the 32 people killed in a brazen Shebab suicide raid on a hotel that also left six lawmakers dead last month.
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Source: Al ManarAdvertisment
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