MOGADISHU, Somalia — The director of a hospital in a disputed metropolis within the Somaliland area says at the least 145 folks have been killed in additional than two months of combating between anti-government fighters and Somaliland safety forces after native elders declared their intention to reunite with Somalia.

Abdimajid Sugulle, with the general public hospital in Las-Anod, instructed The Related Press on Saturday that greater than 1,080 different folks have been wounded and over 100,000 households have fled the town of Las-Anod since late December. Most civilians have fled, he mentioned.

The director accused Somaliland forces of destroying the hospital’s laboratory, blood financial institution and affected person ward in mortar assaults. “The Somaliland forces who’re positioned exterior the city have been shelling civilian residents and medical services indiscriminately. No single day passes with out shelling and casualties,” he instructed the AP by cellphone.

Somaliland’s protection ministry has denied shelling the hospital, and the federal government has asserted it has a “steady dedication” to a cease-fire it declared on Feb. 10. “Indiscriminate shelling of civilians is unacceptable and should cease,” the United Nations and worldwide companions warned final month.

Somaliland separated from Somalia three a long time in the past and seeks worldwide recognition as an impartial nation. Somaliland and the Somali state of Puntland have disputed Las-Anod for years, however the japanese metropolis has been below Somaliland’s management.

The U.N. mission in Somalia and the U.N. human rights workplace had mentioned the violence in Las-Anod killed at the least 80 folks between Dec. 28 and Feb. 28 and greater than 450 noncombatants had been wounded, together with medical personnel. The U.N. has referred to as for respect for medical staff and unhindered humanitarian entry.

The battle in Las-Anod started when an unidentified gunman killed a well-liked younger politician in Somaliland’s opposition get together as he left a mosque. Protests adopted towards Somaliland officers and forces within the metropolis.

Somaliland’s authorities has blamed the unrest on fighters with “anti-peace teams and terrorism” and alleged that the al-Shabab extremist group, affiliated with al-Qaida, has supported some assaults.