MOGADISHU: Somalia’s allies sent planes carrying medical supplies and doctors on Tuesday, while the diaspora rallied to donate blood to help the country cope with the crushing aftermath of its worst ever bombing.

At least 276 people were killed and 300 injured on Saturday when a truck packed with explosives blew up in a busy commercial district, according to the government, however medical sources suggest the death toll could be over 300.

The disaster quickly overwhelmed the fragile health system of a country which has experienced nearly three decades of civil war and anarchy and is heavily dependent on foreign aid.

Planes from the United States, Kenya and Qatar landed in Mogadishu on Tuesday.

“We have received today three aircraft carrying medical supplies from the USA, Qatar and Kenya and apart from the one from USA government, the other two will carry back wounded people, about 35 victims,” Mogadishu mayor Tabid Abdi Mohamed told reporters.

On Monday Turkey — a leading donor and investor in Somalia — ferried 35 wounded people to Ankara after its health minister, Ahmet Demircan, accompanied a plane carrying supplies, medics and disaster experts to the country.

Djibouti’s Health Minister Djama Elmi Okieh accompanied a team of specialist doctors and paramedics in a military aircraft to assist the wounded, according to state media.

On Tuesday Kenyan Foreign Minister Amina Mohamed announced that the country would evacuate 31 injured Somalis for specialised treatment in Nairobi, and send 11 tonnes of medicine to the neighbouring country.

In addition the Kenyan Red Cross launched a fundraising drive for victims of the attack.

“This is a very good sign, for the fact that we are getting medical assistance because we cannot handle such a massive disaster,” said Dr Abdukadir Haji Adem who runs Mogadishu’s only free ambulance service AMIN.

Published in Dawn, October 18th, 2017