Kenyans turn up to donate blood for victims of deadly Mogadishu bomb blast

Hundreds of Kenyans and Somali natives turned up at Eastleigh in Kenya’s capital Nairobi on Tuesday to donate blood to help victims of the Mogadishu bomb blast that killed over 300 people.

The campaign was launched by social activist and businessman Ahmed Mohamed to support the over 300 Somalis injured after Saturday’s bomb attack.

Let’s do this for our brothers and sisters in Mogadishu, Somalia. Let’s do it for humanity. #KenyansForSomalia pic.twitter.com/CChAJ0GVHj

— Ahmed Mohamed (@Asmali77) October 17, 2017

The blood donors gathered around the bloodmobile – a mobile blood donation center – which was parked by the main Eastleigh road for the exercise.

Huge turnout for the blood donation exercise in Eastleigh. Overwhelmed by the outpouring of love for Mogadishu victims. #KenyansForSomalia pic.twitter.com/e7KmFUnxUo

— Ahmed Mohamed (@Asmali77) October 17, 2017

The Kenyan government says it will send 31 tonnes of medical supplies to Mogadishu and evacuate some of the victims of the bomb blast to Nairobi for treatment.

Blood donation drives are ongoing in Somalia where officers of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) have also been donating since Monday.

Lt. Gen. Osman Noor Soubagleh who led the drive at the AMISOM Force Headquarters urged both officers and civilians to turn up in large numbers and donate blood in aid of the bomb victims.

Ex AlShabaab leader Abu Mansoor donates blood 2 victims of bombing dares group’s leaders n their sons 2 take up suicide missions themselves pic.twitter.com/2z0AvcR3HN

— Yassin Juma (@Yassinjuma) October 16, 2017

Djibouti has sent 30 doctors to Somalia led by its health minister to help with emergency response.

Djibouti 2nd foreign country to come to Somalia’s assistance sending 30 doctors led by Health Minister as part of an emergency response team pic.twitter.com/2TTasbbKH8

— Yassin Juma (@Yassinjuma) October 16, 2017

Turkey has also been in the country since the bombing led by its health minister with a medical team and an airplane that airlifted over 30 critically injured victims to Ankara for treatment.

PHOTOS: #Turkey Emergency Response airlifting 34 Critically injured airlifted to #Ankara for specialised treatment. pic.twitter.com/l2W6DOYzqb

— Yassin Juma (@Yassinjuma) October 16, 2017

Saturday’s explosion hit a busy junction in Mogadishu killing civilians including doctors and students.

No group has claimed responsibility but the Somali government points fingers at Islamist group al Shabaab.