The United Nations said Wednesday it has stepped up delivery of coordinated and comprehensive humanitarian response following last Saturday's attack in Mogadishu.
A joint statement from the UN Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM) said the UN has mobilized its staff members and resources in response to appeals from federal and government authorities to aid Somalis affected by last Saturday's bomb blasts in the capital Mogadishu.
The Deputy Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Somalia, Raisedon Zenenga, said the UN family in Somalia was deeply saddened by the devastating attacks that killed over 300 civilians and injured more than 500.
"We have called upon our colleagues in the UN family to donate blood. At the same time, the entire UN family is also mobilizing in support for the response by the Federal Government and the local administration," he said.
Zenenga was among 137 UN staff members who have donated blood as of Tuesday in response to an emergency appeal from local and government authorities.
He noted that many hospitals in the city had been overwhelmed by the number of people wounded in the attacks and were running short of supplies.
Zenenga said the UN is working closely with the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) to ensure they provide adequate support to federal and local government ministries and agencies.
"Our support as the UN family will partly go through AMISOM, including some equipment and medical supplies. We also have agencies such as UNDP that will provide support directly to the Banadir administration's response," Zenenga said.
Apart from the UN, NGOs, donors, the private sector, member states and civil society organizations are stepping up search and rescue efforts, including providing urgent life-saving assistance through the government-led emergency response center.
Assistance provided so far include earthmoving and fire equipment, ambulances, cash, medical and food supplies and tents.
Over 300 people have been confirmed dead, over 330 people injured with nearly 200 people still missing as of Tuesday, according to the UN.
The UN Mine Action Service (UNMAS) has deployed technical advisors, medics and explosives-detecting dog teams at the site of the main bomb blast near the Safari Hotel since last Sunday.
UNMAS Somalia Director, Alan Macdonald, noted the important role played by the agency's sniffer dogs in the search for secondary explosive devices around the perimeter area of the main blast site.
"In the second day, the response changed, we have explosive detection dogs but we've also augmented that with combat engineering support where we are helping the AMISOM soldiers with heavy equipment for removing rubble at the site," said Macdonald.
