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SOS Village on the Front Line

November 27, 2007

As SOS Children’s Villages are established where the need is greatest, that frequently means that they are established in war torn regions around the world. On the day after thanksgiving, when we in the US were sitting back and relaxing in the comfort of our families, the SOS Children’s Village in Mogadishu was hit for the second time in 2 weeks as the Ethiopian military carried out operations nearby.

Two weeks ago the village was hit by 4 mortar shells, this time a total of thirteen mortar shells hit the village. Using established protocols, the children and staff were evacuated to a specially built bunker at the first sign of trouble, however this did not prevent five members of SOS staff from being injured and admitted to the village hospital. Two vehicles were also badly damaged, with the staff housing and hospital also being hit and damaged.

So to return to the topic of Thanksgiving, we’d all like to give thanks that no children or staff were killed, and that the fighting has now apparently calmed down around the village.

Topics: Childrens Village news, Africa |