Sudanese refugees in Ethiopia face fever outbreaks and violence
July 12, 2024 (ADDIS ABABA) – Sudanese refugees in Ethiopia are facing a dire situation, with an outbreak of fever among children, a lack of medical facilities, and violence plaguing the camps in the Amhara region.
Approximately 6,000 Sudanese refugees, including around 2,300 women and children, are enduring harsh conditions in the Olala forest. Tragically, 45 children have died in recent months, according to a report by the Sudanese Refugee Committee in the Amhara region.
The report also highlights that over 2,000 children aged between 3 months and 17 years are suffering from malnutrition, diarrhoea, and colds due to limited food options. Refugees have confirmed to Sudan Tribune that the unsanitary environment has worsened the health situation, particularly for children, with a rise in fever and malaria cases.
Last week alone, 154 children fell ill with fever, adding to the 210 already suffering. A video filmed within the forest and shared with Sudan Tribune reveals a displaced person pleading for help. He states that the refugees have endured 71 days of dire conditions without any assistance from international humanitarian organisations. He also accuses the international community of ignoring their plight.
He reiterates the spread of fever among children, the lack of essential medicines, and the absence of healthcare facilities. He calls for urgent international intervention, emphasising the refugees’ despair and their desire to be relocated to a third country.
The situation is further compounded by the presence of 10 children with special needs among 76 others who desperately require medical care. Their mobility has been limited due to the rainy season, making their situation even more precarious.
Adding to their woes, a proposed relocation to a new area was rejected after a UNHCR team preparing the camp was attacked by Ethiopian militias.
Despite these challenges, Andrew Mbogori, a representative of the UNHCR, recently visited the new Aura site for refugees. Over 2,000 Sudanese refugees have already been transferred there, with plans to accommodate more than 12,000 in the coming months.
Unfortunately, violence persists. The camps for Sudanese refugees in “Al Koma – Olala” have seen over 1,700 attacks on refugees. Last week, a Sudanese refugee was kidnapped, with a militia demanding a $3,000 ransom for his release.