Somali-Canadians left reeling

Call for Ottawa to offer on-the-ground assistance in wake of massive truck bomb that killed hundreds

Canadians left reeling after a bomb blast killed hundreds in Mogadishu over the weekend are calling for Canada to offer help to those affected by the horrific attack.

More than 300 people were killed and nearly 400 others were injured after a truck bomb targeted a crowded street in Somalia’s capital on Saturday. It was one of the world’s deadliest attacks in years. Somalia’s government blamed the al-Qaida-linked al-Shabab, though the Islamic extremist group had not claimed responsibility.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau offered his condolences to the Somali-Canadian community and the family and friends of those who lost their lives. “The attacks in Somalia are horrifying and Canada condemns them strongly,” he said on Twitter.

Global Affairs Canada did not immediately respond to a request for comment on whether the government would send increased aid to the region in the wake of the bombing.

Jibril Ibrahim, president of the Somali Canadian Cultural Society of Edmonton, said Somalia has been devastated by the blast and Canada’s government should be offering assistance.

“Our prime minister has made a statement, and I think the statement is good, but not what we need at this moment,” Ibrahim said in an interview on Monday, adding that the federal government should be helping get the wounded out of Mogadishu and into places where they can get adequate medical treatment.

More than 70 critically injured people have been airlifted to Turkey for treatment, and Somalia’s information minister said countries including Kenya and Ethiopia have offered to send medical aid.

“Yes, the prime minister tweeted about the issue, but it shouldn’t stop at tweeting, it should be helping in any way,” said Mohamed Adem, another Somali community organizer. “Even if they only send one airplane filled with medicine or they offer financial help to hospitals. The next few days are critical, really.”

Supplies provided by foreign governments in the early days could mean the difference between life and death, said Adem.

“The other 200-something died after that because there’s no medical equipment there,” he said. “There’s no blood. There’s so many different things that are missing.”

Omar Warfa, executive director of Dixon Community Services in Toronto, said news of the attack has hit many Somali-Canadians hard. “It is quite traumatizing for the community.”