Mogadishu, the capital and most populous city in Somalia, fell prey to a double car bombing on Saturday 14 October. Reports suggest that there are 276 confirmed deaths so far with more than 300 people receiving treatment in hospital and many more still missing.

One of the vehicles involved in the attack was crammed with military-grade explosives. While no group has taken responsibility for the bombing yet, the majority of the Somalian population believes that it is the work of terrorist organisation al-Shabaab. The organisation, which pledges allegiance to Al-Qaeda, has killed thousands of people across East Africa, particularly in Somalia.

Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed, who was elected as president of Somalia back in February, had been focused on trying to defeat al-Shabaab completely in the country. However, that only led to an escalation of the violence between the terrorist organisation and Somalia’s military. Following the attack during the weekend, Mohamed also announced three days of national mourning and made an appeal for his fellow citizens to donate blood, given the sense of urgency in hospitals in and around Mogadishu.

On top of the attack on Saturday, which has been described as the deadliest in the region’s modern history, Somalia is also facing drought and famine. Earlier this year, the United Nations migration agency launched an appeal for more than $24 million in funding. According to the agency, approximately half of the population in Somalia “are in need of assistance, including food, water and sanitation, health and nutrition, protection and shelter.”