NAIROBI
Nearly 40,000 Ethiopians have sought refuge in Kenya after fleeing deadly clashes in their country, Kenya’s independent human rights commission said Tuesday, urging authorities to provide emergency assistance and protect civilians escaping the violence.
“The protection of life and human dignity cannot be postponed. KNCHR urges all responsible authorities and partners to act urgently, in coordination and with compassion, so that everyone seeking safety in Moyale is protected by the law and can access essential humanitarian assistance,” Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) Chairperson Claris Ogangah said in a statement.
The latest figure represents a sharp increase from the more than 14,000 displaced Ethiopians reported by the Kenya Red Cross over the weekend, as fighting between regional security forces and armed civilians from Ethiopia’s Oromia and Somali regional states continues near the shared border.
The commission said it was concerned by reports that “approximately 40,000 people have sought refuge in Moyale after fleeing unrest in Ethiopia.”
More than 15,000 were reportedly staying in eight temporary shelters, including churches and schools, while over 20,000 others were being accommodated by relatives and friends.
The influx has placed considerable pressure on host communities, with shortages of food, clean water, shelter, sanitation and healthcare raising concerns about deteriorating humanitarian conditions.
KNCHR warned that overcrowding and inadequate sanitation could increase the risk of communicable disease outbreaks.
It also reported that two women had given birth at Manyatta Burji and another two at Bitiye, highlighting the urgent need for maternal healthcare, emergency treatment and postnatal services.
The commission called on the Kenyan and Ethiopian governments to coordinate efforts to address the violence and ensure the safe and humane movement of civilians across the border.
KNCHR emphasized that Kenya’s constitutional protections apply to everyone within its borders, regardless of nationality or immigration status.
It also reminded authorities of their obligations under international refugee law, including the principle of non-refoulement, which prohibits returning people to places where they face persecution or serious threats to their safety.
Flag dispute triggers deadly fighting
The humanitarian crisis follows clashes involving security forces and armed civilians from Ethiopia’s Oromia and Somali regional states, particularly among the Oromo Borana and Somali Garre communities.
Both groups inhabit areas around Moyale, where longstanding disputes over administrative boundaries and territorial control have repeatedly fueled tensions.
The latest violence was preceded by a dispute over the raising of the Somali Regional State flag and the opening of a new administrative office in an area of Moyale claimed by Oromia authorities.
Tensions intensified following the killing of a 13-year-old girl on Oct. 18, triggering protests, business closures and further confrontations between the communities.
Heavy fighting erupted on Oct. 22, with regional security forces and armed civilians exchanging gunfire as violence spread to several settlements in southern Ethiopia.
Representatives of the rival communities have accused each other of provoking the clashes, while residents have reported deaths, injuries and the destruction of homes and businesses.
The fighting has also disrupted transport and commercial activities along the Kenya-Ethiopia border, an important trade corridor connecting the two East African countries.
Kenyan lawmakers from Marsabit County earlier appealed to President William Ruto to engage Ethiopian authorities diplomatically and help restore calm.
KNCHR warned that humanitarian assistance must also take into account the needs of Kenyan communities hosting displaced families, saying coordinated intervention was essential to prevent conditions from deteriorating further.
