MOGADISHU, Oct. 16 (Xinhua) -- Somalia on Monday appealed to the international community to provide assistance to enable the government to respond to the crisis following bomb attack in Mogadishu on Saturday, which has so far claimed more than 276 lives.
The ministry of humanitarian affairs and disaster management said the government has appointed a team of ministers to coordinate and oversee the overall response to the national crisis.
The ministry said a government-led National Emergency Operations Center has also been activated in line with the national disaster management policy to help respond to the crisis.
"The government urges all actors on the ground to coordinate the emergency operations center so we can be more effective and reach all the victims affected by the deadly attack," it said.
So far Kenya, Turkey and Djibouti are among countries which have offered medical assistance following the deadly attack that has shocked the international community.
A bomb-laden truck exploded at a busy junction in central Mogadishu lined with government buildings, restaurants, hotels, and kiosks, killing 276 people and injuring over 300 more.
The blast destroyed buildings and set vehicles ablaze, in one of the worst such attack to date in the capital, which has suffered nearly three decades of violence.
No group including Al-Shabaab terror group which usually carries out such attacks, has claimed responsibility for the latest attack.
The ministry said the team at the National Emergency Operation Center were assisting with victim identification, information and data management, coordination of hospitals response across the city and providing logistics support.
It said rescue workers continue to work tirelessly in the area and so far the death toll is at 276 and at least 300 injured.
"However, these numbers are expected to rise as more victims continue to be rescued from the rubbles in the surrounding area," it said.
