Sudanese refugees caught in crossfire as violence escalates in Ethiopia

July 17, 2024 (ADDIS ABABA) -Violence erupted in the Kumer region of northeastern Ethiopia, leaving several Sudanese refugees, including a child, injured. The armed clashes between Ethiopian Federal Police and an unidentified armed group have further destabilized the area, which is home to thousands of Sudanese refugees seeking safety.

Approximately 6,000 Sudanese refugees residing in Ethiopia’s Awlala forest are enduring dire conditions. Among them are 2,300 women and children. Tragically, 45 children have died in recent months, according to a report by the Sudanese Refugee Committee in the Amhara region.

Sudanese refugees told “Sudan Tribune” on Wednesday that an armed group attacked Ethiopian Federal Police forces in the Kumer area of the Amhara region at dawn, resulting in the deaths of nine police officers. The refugees confirmed that a three-year-old child and several others were injured during the attack.

In response to the violence, Ethiopian authorities withdrew federal police who had been detaining refugees in the Awlala forest, according to a statement from the Sudanese Refugee Coordination Committee in the Amhara region. The committee described the situation as dangerous and deteriorating, citing continued attacks, killings, kidnappings, and the increased presence of armed groups in the region, particularly in the Kumer and Awlala areas.

The Coordination Committee renewed its appeal to the UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees) and local organizations serving refugees to urgently address the refugees’ needs and relocate them to a safe area.

In a related development, the UNHCR has transferred 2,600 Sudanese refugees from the Kurmuk crossing center to a new settlement in the Aura area near Assosa, the capital of the Benishangul-Gumuz region in western Ethiopia.

The UNHCR anticipates hosting 12,000 refugees in the new camp in the coming months.