Audio By Carbonatix
Thirty six of the most severely wounded people in Tuesday's suicide attack in Somalia's capital, Mogadishu, are being flown to Turkey for treatment.
Among those on board are teenagers who at the time of the blast were at the education ministry to see if they had won study scholarships to Turkey.
The Islamist al-Shabab group said it carried out the bombing.
About 150 people were wounded and 77 have died after a lorry detonated outside several government ministries.
It is the largest attack since al-Shabab withdrew its forces from Mogadishu in August.
Burns victims
The Turkish prime minister recently visited Somalia to pledge aid and support to the war-torn country.
The BBC's Mohamed Moalimu in Mogadishu says 37 patients were taken to Mogadishu airport on Thursday morning, but one person died before the flight took off.
Somalia's Justice Minister Ahmed Bile, who is head of a special committee set up to deal with the aftermath of the attack, said the most of the patients being airlifted to Turkey were suffering from bad burns.
Our reporter says Mogadishu's main hospital has been struggling to cope with the wounded. Some people were lying outside for treatment when President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed visited on Wednesday, the day after the blast.
He announced that a $100,000 (£65,000) fund had been set up to treat the victims and help relatives of those who died.
The president - a former Islamist fighter - heads the weak UN-backed transitional government which relies on the 9,000-strong African Union force for its security.
Somalia has been without an effective central government since 1991 - the transitional government and Islamist militias are competing for control of the country.
Al-Shabab, which has links to al-Qaeda, controls large swathes of south and central Somalia.
Somalia's political instability has been compounded in the past year by the worst drought in 60 years, which has forced tens of thousands of people to flee to Mogadishu in search of food.
The UN has declared a famine in six regions of Somalia.
DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
Tags:
DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
Latest Stories
-
Nkyinkyim Band to headline Ghana Independence celebration in London
7 minutes -
NPP leadership has lost touch with grassroot – Dr Nyaho-Tamekloe
22 minutes -
IGP’s Team nabs drug suspects in Tamale swoop; seizes cash, narcotics
29 minutes -
NaCCA revises teacher manual, withdraws ‘gender definition’ content deemed contrary to Ghanaian values
45 minutes -
Ntim Fordjour condemns gov’t over gender definition in curriculum
58 minutes -
NPP must develop thick skin for criticism – Dr Asah-Asante
1 hour -
Auditor-General raises alarm over 2,000+ weapon interceptions at airports
2 hours -
Motorists lament years of faulty traffic lights at Poku Transport Junction
2 hours -
Carabao Cup: The battle for Wembley begins
2 hours -
I’m yet to receive any official communication from NPP – Prof Frimpong-Boateng
2 hours -
FSRP, FarmMate tomato partnership yields 240 tonnes in Upper East
2 hours -
Prof Frimpong-Boateng contributed to NPP’s downfall – Haruna Mohammed
2 hours -
Joy FM’s ‘Drive Time’ listeners raise GH¢12,000 to save listener from eviction
2 hours -
AFCON 2026: Egypt eyes revenge against Senegal as host Morocco faces Nigeria test
2 hours -
Domelevo advocates for Public Office Holders Conduct Bill to curb corruption
2 hours
