MOGADISHU, June 19 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations in Somalia on Wednesday called for greater protection for healthcare professionals and humanitarian workers who provide critical services to survivors of conflict-related sexual violence in the country.

In a statement issued to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict that falls on Wednesday, the UN said attacks against healthcare and humanitarian workers are on the rise in Somalia, though many of these incidents go underreported.

James Swan, the UN secretary-general's acting special representative for Somalia, said women and girls in the country continue to be exposed to many forms of sexual violence, especially in areas affected by conflict and insecurity.

"When health professionals can operate in those areas, they provide much-needed medical care, often risking their own lives," Swan said in a statement in Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia.

According to the World Health Organization's surveillance system in Somalia, at least 10 healthcare workers were injured in attacks launched by non-state actors on healthcare facilities between January 2023 and May 31, 2024, a figure that is believed to be significantly underreported.

"I pay tribute to the health workers who assist survivors in the aftermath of rape and other forms of sexual violence, and I call for enhanced protection of all those who dispense critical care to those in need," Swan added.

Since 2015, the International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict has been observed annually on June 19. The event marks the UN Security Council's adoption of a resolution recognizing sexual violence as a weapon of war and a threat to international peace and security. ■