Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has released details on the humanitarian impact of the heavy fighting that erupted in Baidoa, reporting dozens of casualties and serious disruptions to emergency medical services.
According to MSF, at least 69 people were injured during the clashes and required medical treatment, placing significant pressure on healthcare facilities already operating in a challenging environment.
The organization said the violence also directly affected healthcare workers and emergency responders. One doctor was killed during the fighting, while two other medical staff members sustained injuries.
The incident has raised concerns about the safety of healthcare personnel working in conflict-affected areas while providing lifesaving assistance to the wounded.
MSF further reported that an ambulance was looted during the unrest, while access routes to medical facilities were blocked as fighting continued across parts of the city.
The disruption of emergency transport services made it more difficult for injured civilians to reach hospitals and receive timely treatment.
The clashes, which lasted for several hours, involved heavy gunfire and the use of heavy weapons in multiple neighborhoods.
Residents reported widespread fear and uncertainty as the fighting spread across different sections of Baidoa, forcing many civilians to remain indoors.
MSF expressed concern over the challenges facing emergency medical operations during active conflict, noting that insecurity and road closures can severely hinder the movement of ambulances, medical supplies, and healthcare workers.
The loss of a doctor and the injuries suffered by other medical personnel have intensified concerns about the protection of healthcare workers in conflict zones.
Humanitarian organizations have repeatedly stressed the importance of safeguarding medical facilities, ambulances, and health workers during armed confrontations.
Baidoa is home to a large civilian population, including thousands of internally displaced people who rely heavily on humanitarian and healthcare services. Any disruption to these services can have immediate consequences for vulnerable communities.
The fighting also affected movement within the city, limiting access to healthcare facilities and other essential services. Residents reported difficulties reaching hospitals and obtaining urgent assistance as the security situation deteriorated.
Although reports indicated that the intensity of the clashes later subsided, the security situation remained unstable, with uncertainty persisting over the positions of rival forces and control of several contested areas.
The opposing sides have issued conflicting accounts of the battle. Federal government-aligned forces said they repelled the attack, while forces loyal to former Southwest State President Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed Laftagareen claimed they achieved significant gains during the fighting.
While the competing claims remain difficult to independently verify, the humanitarian consequences are becoming increasingly clear.
The high number of casualties, the death of a healthcare worker, and the disruption of emergency medical services underscore the severe impact the fighting has had on civilians and the healthcare system in Baidoa.