Renewed fighting between regional forces from Galmudug and Puntland in the central Somali Galkayo town have killed at least 11 people and displaced 50,000 others, the UN humanitarian agency said on Saturday.
The UN Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said local authorities have indicated that the number could be higher as more people continue to flee the violence in the two semi-autonomous regions of Somalia.
“Humanitarian partners operating in Galkayo are estimating that 60 percent of the displaced are IDPs facing secondary displacements, raising protection concerns and raising vulnerability,” the OCHA said in a report.
Fresh clashes broke out in Galkayo on Oct. 7 and a peace agreement reached by clan elders and the business community two days later failed to hold and fighting erupted less than 24 hours after it was signed.
The interim peace agreement had called for immediate cessation of hostilities; an immediate withdrawal of armed personnel from the area of contention; and discussions on peaceful resolutions of the issue to continue.
A technical committee established to facilitate further negotiations between the two sides to address the root causes of the conflict is yet to make progress.
“The armed violence has exacerbated an already fragile humanitarian situation in Galkayo and its surrounding areas, especially for IDPs who continue to live in deplorable conditions and makeshift structures,” it said.
The UN said the majority of civilians from south Galkayo have fled to parts of south Mudug and Galgaduud, while those from north Galkayo fled to locations of north Mudug and Nugaal.