Nearly 40,000 Ethiopians Flee Into Kenya Amid Regional Fighting

Approximately 40,000 people have fled from southern Ethiopia into Moyale, Kenya, following an escalation in fighting between forces from the Somali and Oromia regions. The conflict, which has persisted for over two decades over resources and boundary demarcations, intensified last week, involving regional security forces and armed civilians.

The International Organization for Migration reports that nearly 11,000 displaced persons have sought refuge at the Oriental Mission Church compound, while others are hosted by local border communities and acquaintances. This influx represents a sharp increase from initial reports of 14,000 displaced persons provided by the Kenya Red Cross Society. The surge has caused critical shortages of food, clean water, and healthcare.

The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights warned that the lack of maternal care and sanitation could lead to communicable disease outbreaks. The commission urged the Kenyan and Ethiopian governments to coordinate efforts to stop the violence and uphold the international principle of non-refoulement. The IOM is currently collaborating with the Government of Kenya and the UN Refugee Agency to manage displacement data and address urgent humanitarian needs.