United Nations agencies have launched an appeal for $8.9 million, approximately Sh1.16 billion, to provide support to around 50,000 individuals who have fled to Kenya following clashes in neighboring Ethiopia. The UN High Commissioner for Refugees Representative in Kenya, Fatima Mohammed-Cole, stated that the agency is collaborating with the International Organization for Migration and the UN Children's Fund to gather resources for the refugees over the next three months.
The funds will be allocated towards essential services such as food, shelter, water, and sanitation, as well as registration and protection services for the refugees. According to Mohammed-Cole, UNHCR is mobilizing emergency relief supplies, including household items and temporary shelter materials, to support nearly 12,000 people, with efforts underway to scale up assistance as needs grow.
Humanitarian workers in Moyale, Kenya, continue to record an influx of people fleeing for safety, despite the sound of gunshots still being heard from the Kenyan side of the border. Malik Adan, head of the Kenya Red Cross Society Upper Eastern Region, reported that more refugees were arriving in Moyale town, while others remained in the camps.
One of the camps, which was relocated out of town, currently houses about 5,000 people, mostly women and children. The Kenya Red Cross earlier reported that the first baby born to a refugee mother had been safely delivered at a local hospital. The situation remains fluid, with thousands of people crossing into Kenya seeking safety, and most being sheltered by local communities.
In anticipation of further arrivals and growing humanitarian needs, the Government of Kenya and inter-agency partners are planning a response covering up to 80,000 people. IOM Kenya Chief of Mission Nomagugu Ncube stated that meeting the immediate needs of the refugees, while also supporting the communities hosting them, is an urgent priority.
IOM is planning an emergency response that includes shelter and essential household items, targeted emergency shelter for the most vulnerable families, water tanks, and water-purifying tablets, as well as assessments and monitoring. The agency noted that arrival figures remained preliminary and could change as more information became available.
The ongoing crisis has prompted a significant response from humanitarian agencies, with a focus on providing critical assistance to those fleeing violence in Ethiopia. As the situation continues to unfold, the need for support and resources for the refugees and host communities remains a pressing concern.
Key points
- UN agencies appeal for $8.9 million to aid 50,000 Ethiopian refugees in Kenya
- Funds will support essential services such as food, shelter, water, and sanitation
- Humanitarian agencies plan for up to 80,000 refugees in response to growing needs
