By ABDULKADIR KHALIF in Mogadishu
Posted Thursday, April 21 2011 at 17:27
Dr Hawa Abdi (second from left), who owns the Hawa Abdi hospital for displaced people. She is with former First Lady of Somalia Mrs Farah Aidid (third from left) and the AU director of women and gender Ms Litha Musyimi Ogana. Al-Shabaab radicals have arrested the hospital's medical staff. FILE | AFRICA REVIEW |
Doctors and nurses in Wanlaweyn town, 110 km southwest of Mogadishu, were Thursday arrested by Islamist militants loyal to al-Shabaab group.
The radical Islamist movement opposing the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia, gave no reason for the arrests.
The medics were part of the personnel of Hawa Abdi Hospital with a base at Hawa Abdi location, 18km south of Mogadishu.
According to Shabelle, a broadcaster in Mogadishu, at least 10 medics were detained and reportedly sentenced by a court serving al-Shabaab.
The medics received sentences ranging between 10 to 15 days.
Neither the hospital nor the movement made statements in regards to the detention. Nevertheless, the affected personnel were busy caring for sick people in one of the areas devastated by drought and diseases.
In December 2010, Dr Hawa Abdi, the founder of Hawa Abdi Hospital, was named one of Glamourmagazine's Women of the Year.
Last year, the operations of the award-winning hospital were greatly disrupted by Islamist militias.
Hawa Abdi location is one of the places in the southern outskirts of Mogadishu where thousands of families fleeing the war in the city found sanctuary.
Source: Africa Review
