50,000 Ethiopians flee to Kenya amid clashes
UNHCR reports up to 50,000 people have crossed the border into Kenya seeking safety since October 22.
Up to an estimated 50,000 Ethiopians have crossed into Kenya seeking safety since October 22, according to the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR). The influx is driven by ongoing clashes on the Ethiopian side of the border. UNHCR is monitoring the situation at the Moyale border crossing, with registration and verification processes underway.
Displaced individuals are staying with relatives, host communities, or in temporary shelters like schools and churches. Fatuma Ahmed, a displaced person in Al Huda camp, shared that she fled after her house was burnt and she was separated from her family, finding safety and basic necessities like water and shelter in Kenya. UNHCR emergency teams in Moyale are coordinating with the Kenyan government, including the Department of Refugee Services, and other humanitarian partners for relief efforts.
Humanitarian partners, including UNHCR, UNICEF, and WFP, have jointly requested $8.9 million to provide lifesaving resources for up to 50,000 people. Urgent needs include food, safe drinking water, sanitation, and healthcare. UNHCR representative in Kenya, Fatima Mohammed-Cole, thanked the Kenyan government for its response and highlighted the efforts to prevent disease outbreaks among the large number of arrivals.
Why it mattersUp to 50,000 Ethiopians are seeking refuge in Kenya, straining resources and requiring humanitarian aid.