Every Casualty Counts submitted a joint oral statement, with three Casualty Recorders Network members based in Somalia, for the interactive dialogue on the OHCHR report on technical assistance to Somalia at the 63rd Regular Session of the UN Human Rights Council.
The statement draws the Council’s attention to the continued heavy toll of violence on civilians in Somalia. It sets out what was recorded after fighting between federal forces and opposition fighters in and around Baidoa on 17 August: 94 civilians required hospital treatment, 20 of them children, and four more people were recorded dead on arrival. It describes the obstacles to recording casualties – restricted access, fear of reprisals, weak reporting systems and limited institutional capacity – and what follows from them, which is inadequate investigation and an absence of compensation or psychosocial support for survivors.
The statement urges OHCHR to prioritise technical support to national institutions and to civil society efforts to record casualties transparently and effectively, and asks Council members to maintain their scrutiny and press all parties to protect civilians.
Read or watch the full statement, prepared by Every Casualty Counts with Casualty Recorders Network members IHRO, KAHRDO and SASDO.
Every Casualty Counts is the only global organisation focused exclusively on casualty recording. Read or watch the statement below.
