Some 34,000 people flee heavy fighting in Somali capital Mogadishu

A statement from the office of the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) said so far, at least 135 people have been killed and 413 injured, while more than 34,000 people have fled their homes to escape the heavy fighting that broke out in Mogadishu early this month between forces loyal to the Transitional Federal Government and opposition groups. "These figures have been compiled by UNHCR and a network of partners. Hospitals are reported to be overwhelmed by the number of casualties in need of urgent medical attention," said the UN agency. UNHCR said its partners in the capital said that some people have been trapped in their homes for days, unable to flee because of the raging street battles. The displaced spoke of indiscriminate nightly bombings of residential areas and the targeting of civilians. Some witnessed many people dying, including children and the vulnerable who were unable to leave the area of conflict. "It is extremely sad to see that, while we were preparing to assist people to return home and resume a normal life after years of displacement and suffering, a new humanitarian catastrophe is erupting," said Guillermo Bettocchi, UNHCR's representative to Somalia. "What is more frustrating is our inability to access the displaced people and give them the help they need", Kazinform cites Xinhuanet. See www.chinaview.cn for full version.