Thousands Flee Deadly Ethiopia Clashes as Moyale Violence Spills Into Kenya

MOYALE, Ethiopia — More than 14,000 Ethiopians have fled deadly fighting in the southern border town of Moyale into neighboring Kenya, humanitarian officials said Saturday, as clashes between rival communities left more than a dozen people feared dead.

The fighting involves members of the Somali and Oromo communities and was triggered by a dispute over the display of the Somali regional state's flag in Moyale, a town near the Kenya border that is jointly administered by Ethiopia's Somali and Oromia regional states.

Humanitarian officials said more than 12 people had been killed in the clashes, with fears that the toll could rise as fighting continues.

The Kenya Red Cross said more than 10,900 displaced people were being accommodated in six temporary camps in the Kenyan border town, while nearly 4,000 others were staying with relatives and host families.

The figures marked a sharp increase from Friday, when Marsabit County Commissioner Stanley Kamande said more than 2,000 Ethiopians had crossed into Kenya following the outbreak of violence on Wednesday.

Malik Adan, head of the Kenya Red Cross in the Upper Eastern region, said the displaced people urgently needed food, clean water and sanitation supplies.

“We urgently need more well-wishers to support us with food and water. There is also a need for sanitary supplies and more toilets to avert diarrheal diseases,” Adan told reporters.

The Kenya Red Cross has distributed tents, blankets, sleeping mats and other essential supplies to those fleeing the violence. It is also providing nutritional assistance to children and breastfeeding mothers.

But humanitarian officials warned that available resources might not be enough to meet the needs of the growing number of displaced people.

The influx has raised concerns about worsening humanitarian conditions, particularly in temporary camps where access to clean water and adequate sanitation remains a priority.

Moyale is a major crossing point between Ethiopia and Kenya, serving as an important route for cross-border trade and movement between the two countries.

The fighting has disrupted cross-border commerce and heightened fears of further displacement if the violence persists.

The clashes also underscore longstanding tensions over territorial administration and regional boundaries in Ethiopia, where disputes between communities and regional authorities have periodically erupted into violence.

Kenyan authorities and humanitarian organizations are facing growing pressure to provide assistance as more people cross the border seeking safety.

GAROWE ONLINE