More than 36,000 people have fled violence in Ethiopia and crossed into Kenya through the border town of Moyale. The influx has triggered an expanding humanitarian response, with women and children making up a significant proportion of those displaced. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is working alongside other UN agencies and humanitarian partners to support the national and local emergency response.
The UNHCR said its teams are on the ground supporting the response in coordination with humanitarian partners. The immediate priority remains meeting the needs of those forced to flee their homes. Many of the displaced are being hosted in six camps and host communities in Marsabit County. The Kenya Red Cross is delivering food supplies and providing health services, including hot meals daily.
The Kenya Red Cross has launched an emergency relief operation targeting 1,000 households. The organisation is providing essential items, including blankets, sleeping mats, water containers, and kitchen utensils. Fortified porridge flour is also being provided for young children and other vulnerable groups. The organisation is working with the Marsabit County government and humanitarian partners to reach those most in need.
The rapid increase in arrivals is placing pressure on local resources, highlighting the need for sustained assistance. Families require food, shelter, healthcare, safe water, and other essential supplies. The UN refugee agency is working to ensure that women, children, and other vulnerable people receive adequate protection and support.
The latest figures represent a sharp increase from initial reports of hundreds of people crossing into Kenya after fighting erupted in Moyale on October 21. The violence prompted residents to flee across the international border into Kenya, with women, children, and young people among those arriving in search of safety.
The clashes were reported amid tensions involving Ethiopia’s Oromia and Somali regional states. The influx has disrupted normal life in the border town, which serves as an important commercial crossing between Kenya and Ethiopia. Insecurity has affected cross-border trade, with transport and business activity disrupted by fears over the fighting.
The growing displacement presents a fresh challenge for humanitarian agencies and local authorities. Sustained emergency assistance is needed while assessing the longer-term needs of families whose return home will depend on the security situation. UNHCR and its partners are continuing to support the response as the number of displaced people grows.
Key points
- Over 36,000 Ethiopians have fled to Kenya amid clashes
- Humanitarian response is underway to support displaced families
- Sustained assistance is needed to meet the needs of displaced people
