Gunfight has resumed between the pro-SSC local forces and the Somaliland forces in Laascaanood town for the seventh day on Sunday as number of people fleeing their homes rises, according to local journalists and the clan elders in Laascaanood.
Local journalists also reported indiscriminate shelling in several locations in this troubled city of Sool region. Somaliland forces have been accused of targeting civilian areas with heavy artillery and the bombing has caused various damage.
The number of deaths and injuries could rise, according to the local health workers. However, hospitals are civilian residences have been bombarded making the situation the most complicated one. The ongoing clashes between Somaliland forces and local fighters comes after weeks of tension in the town following the killing of a local politician by masked gunmen. Protesters took to the streets in December resulting Somaliland to shoot them.
This latest fighting also comes amid a dispute over the future status of territories in eastern Somaliland, where a significant number of the locals appear to support unity with Somalia.
The United Nations says that around 80,000 civilians have been forced to leave their homes and that dozens of people have been killed.
Few people who still remain in the city are saying the general situation in Laascaanood is dire as displacement continues. Meanwhile, the UN has been calling for an independent and impartial investigation into clashes in Laascaanood that resulted the killing of civilians.