Somalia Appeals For Blood To Treat Victims

A truck bombing at a busy junction that killed at least 281 people in the capital, Mogadishu, left Somalia appealing for blood to treat those wounded in the deadliest terror attack in 10 years.

Information Minister Abdirahman Osman said the death toll was likely to rise, and more help was needed as more bodies are trapped under rubble.

165 unidentified bodies were buried by the authorities due to being burnt beyond recognition and there were no means of identifying their bodies. Osman blamed the Islamist al-Shabab group, which is allied to al-Qaeda, for the attack.

Two planes of medical aid from the US and Qatar have landed in the capital, while Turkey and Djibouti sent humanitarian assistance on Monday.

A Turkish military plane is said to have taken 40 of the injured to Turkey for medical treatment. Kenya, who neighbours the country, also plans to airlift some of the victims for further treatment.

UCJ, UNILORIN.