[allAfrica.com]


MSF Condemns Attack On Clinic

UN Integrated Regional Information Networks
NEWS
October 24, 2002
Posted to the web October 24, 2002
Nairobi
The international aid organisation Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) has condemned
an attack last week on one of its clinics in Adan Yabal in the Middle Shabelle
Region of central Somalia. It says it has suspended its activities in the area.
MSF spokesman Wyger Wentholt told IRIN that on Saturday (19 October), "a number
of armed men came into an MSF-run clinic and opened fire, killing one patient
and injuring two others - a patient and a visitor."
According to MSF, the patients had been brought to the clinic the previous day
after being wounded in a confrontation with a rival militia. Somali sources
told IRIN the fighting had been between the Abgal subclans of the Warsangali
and the Agon Yar.
"MSF considers this incident to be an extremely serious violation of the
fundamental principles of international law," an MSF statement said.
"International humanitarian law specifically protects medical services and
directs that they must be respected and protected at all times and should not
be the object of attacks."
"We want to go back, but we want assurances that the clinic can function
normally and that the neutrality of medical structures will be respected,"
Wentholt added.

   

  =============================================================================
   Copyright © 2002 UN Integrated Regional Information Networks. All rights
        reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com).
  =============================================================================