Ethiopia faces new influx of refugees from North, South Sudan
By Tesfa-Alem Tekle
January 16, 2012 (ADDIS ABABA) – Violence in North Sudan and South Sudan will drive a new wave of refugees into Ethiopia, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
In anticipation of a new wave of displaced Sudanese, the IOM said it has opened a sub-office in Ethiopia’s Benishangul Gumuz region, in Assosa town near the border with Sudan, where large number Sudanese refugees fleeing the conflict are expected to arrive.
The new office is currently coordinating and providing transportation service at the border with Sudan to assist newly arriving refugees largely women and children, to camps in Ethiopia.
Sudan’s states of South Kordofan and Blue Nile have been a scene of violence, since June and August respectively, when fighting broke-out between Sudanese government forces and rebels who fought North Sudan along with the former South Sudan rebels during the two-decade civil war that led to the South’s independence.
With an average rate of 200-300 Sudanese refugees arriving Ethiopia on daily basis, the continued fighting has forced tens and thousands of Sudanese to flee to neighbouring Ethiopia. Since the conflicts began Ethiopia has received at least 35,000 Sudanese refugees who are currently being sheltered at three Ethiopian camps: Tongo, Sherkole and Adamazine.
The Republic of South Sudan gained its independence in July 2011; however the world’s newest nation has since been affected by a series of conflicts among its armed ethnic groups.
Ongoing tribal clashes in Jonglei state have led to the killing of hundreds, possibly thousands, over the last month – although these reports are unconfirmed. Civilians in Pibor County, which borders Ethiopia, were advised by the UN to flee to the area as 6,000-8,000 armed men Luo-Nuer men conducted a revenge attach against the Murle tribe who inhabit the area.
Initially the UN and South Sudanese troops were completely outnumbered but a surge in troops appears to have forced the attackers to retreat. However, in the last week there have been reports that Murle cattle raiders are already making reprisal attacks in Luo-Nuer areas of Jonglei.
As more newly-displaced refugees are expected to cross the border into Ethiopia and with existing camps already reaching capacity the IOM said it is planning to build two new camps near the borders to cope up the increasing influx of refugees from both Sudan and South Sudan.
It is not clear how many refugees will arrive in Ethiopia, but the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) is coordinating relief efforts with the IOM and Ethiopian authorities preparing to assist for as many as 50,000 new refugees.
(ST)