By Agwanda Saye in Mogadishu.

The National Union of Somali Journalists is concerned about the increasing journalists’ casualties in Somalia after a broadcast journalist was wounded in a landmine blast in Mogadishu on Sunday 17 June, 2012 around 7:00pm, while the union hopes quick recovery for another wounded journalist who was flown to Nairobi for further medical treatment

The journalist, Abdifatah Ibrahim Hassan, a newscaster of SIMBA radio, a privately owned radio station, was wounded by a shrapnel from a landmine blast on Sunday evening, June 17, 2012 around 7:00pm local time, as he left the radio station at Bakaro market and heading his home at Hamar-Bile neighborhood. The shrapnel hit the tight close the testicles of the right leg. Two people were killed in the blast and three additional people were wounded.

He was rushed to Madina Hospital where he went under two successful surgeries, according to the Director of the Hospital, Dr. Mohamed Yusuf who spoke with NUSOJ, “He was under two surgeries and now we hope he will recover.”

The director of SIMBA Radio, Abdullahi Ali Farah (Atosh) who spoke with NUSOJ said that, It was unfortunate incident that one of his journalists were wounded, noting that the journalist was not only servicing the radio but the public as well.

The National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) called the incident worrisome trend that everyday the journalists are on the line of fire. “It is intolerable to witness that our members are either killed or wounded in Mogadishu,” Mohamed Ibrahim, NUSOJ Secretary General said, “We call on the all sides of the conflict to respect the journalists who are tirelessly feeding them updated news information and urge the Transitional Federal Government to carry out full investigations into the previous cases of murders and wounds and end the culture of impunity reaching its peak.”

Meanwhile, officials from the National Union of Somali Journalists visited Mohamed Nur Mohamed “Sharif” of Bar-Kulan Radio at The Aga Khan Hospital in Nairobi after he was flown to Nairobi after the journalist’s health condition has deteriorated, after surviving an assassination attempt. Mohamed Sharif was wounded by two unknown armed men after he left a local television offices in Hamarjajab neighborhood for home on June 8, 2012.

“I had a problem of breathing and I was taken to Nairobi and receiving treatment at Aga Khan Hospital.” Mohamed Sharif who was speaking to Mohamed Garane, the Union’s training secretary who visited him at the hospital said, “I am feeling good now.”

“I had the damaged areas of my stomach scanned and I have gone under care and treatment, for Allah’s mercy I can breathe now” Mohamed Sharif added, thanking Bar-Kulan radio administrators – a UN funded radio -, Albany Associates, NUSOJ and Somali journalists for their sympathy and care.

NUSOJ sent urgent medical assistance to Doha Center for Media Freedom (DCMF) and had kindly responded. DCMF has helped at least 10 either wounded or sick journalists including the journalists wounded at the theatre blast this year alone.