Somali PM visits Mogadishu attack victims in Ankara

ANKARA

Somali Prime Minister Hassan Ali Khayre visited victims of the recent Mogadishu terror attack receiving treatment at a hospital in the capital Ankara on Oct. 26.

Some 35 Somalis wounded in the truck bombing, including three children, were transferred to Turkey for medical treatment following the Oct. 14 attack that killed more than 300 people and wounded hundreds of others in Mogadishu.

“Our brothers in this country [Turkey] stood by us when we needed [them] most. I’m happy that the wounded are being taken care of,” Khayre said during his visit to the wounded at Ankara Numune Hospital, which was carried out as part of this three-day official visit to Turkey.

Khayre was greeted by Somali citizens carrying banners with pictures of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Somali President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed, also known as “Farmajo,” at the entrance of the hospital.

During his visit to the hospital, Khayre received information regarding the health conditions of the wounded from doctor Nurullah Zengin and also spoke to the relatives of the wounded Somalis.

Khayre vowed that the attack will “only make the country stronger.”

“This tragedy harmed civilians only. This incident gave me the courage to do more for my people. God willing, we will restore peace in our country,” he added.

Khayre was accompanied by Turkish Health Minister Ahmet Demircan during his visit to another hospital in Ankara.

Speaking to journalists after the visit, Demircan said two of those wounded had been discharged from the hospital so far.

“The treatment of the other 33 is ongoing. There are those who are receiving treatment at intensive care units and those who are in regular service. All the necessary medical and surgical responses are being given,” Demircan told journalists at the Atatürk Training and Research Hospital, conveying his best wishes to the people of Somalia.

He noted that the hospital constructed by Turkey and named after President Erdoğan in Somalia served the wounded immediately after the attack, while Khayre in return thanked Demircan for visiting Somalia right after the attack.

“You transferred our wounded to Turkey. You brought medicine and doctors with you. I thank you on behalf of the people of Somalia. I visited some of the wounded today and saw that they are well. I believe the others will also get better,” he said, adding that the Somali state and people stand “united against terror.”

“We thank Turkey and believe it will always be on our side. This time we shared pain together. Hopefully we will experience joy together after this pain,” Khayre added.

Earlier in the day, Khayre met Erdoğan and Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım to discuss bilateral relations, regional and international issues.