Addis Standard
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An independent Ethiopia based online media focusing on current affairs. Original content+daily gist of media monitoring
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#Ethiopia: #Sudanese refugees need water and food

*Insufficient food and drinking water and overcrowded shelters at the
Kumer refugee camp

Ethiopia continues to receive people that flee conflict and violence in Sudan. The newly established refugee camp #Kumer, 70 kilometers from the border crossing in #Metema, hosts almost 8.000 people but lacks the most basic items and services.

‘’I never thought I would one day be a refugee,” says Dr. Samah Kail Hussein. A medical doctor at the Khartoum military hospital, she now finds herself at the Kumer refugee camp, 70 kilometers behind the Ethiopian border, together with her ailing mother.

Read more at: https://lutheranworld.org/news/ethiopia-sudanese-refugees-need-water-and-food
Cholera outbreak spreading across #Ethiopia

Cholera cases are rapidly increasing in Ethiopia, as reported by the United Nations Population Fund's (#UNFPA) latest humanitarian response report. Outbreaks have been reported in all regions of Ethiopia, except for #Gamella and #Tigray.

The #Amhara region, which is already grappling with a widespread cholera outbreak, has confirmed 225 cases and seven deaths at the #Kumer site. This site has provided refuge for almost 10,000 Sudanese refugees and asylum seekers who escaped the crisis in #Sudan.

The UNFPA has pointed out that due to limited access to food, water, and proper shelter, women and girls in the area are facing increased protection risks.

https://reliefweb.int/report/ethiopia/unfpa-ethiopia-humanitarian-response-situation-report-august-2023
#Sudanese refugees flee UN camp in #Ethiopia following attacks

Over 1,000 Sudanese refugees have fled a United Nations camp in northern Ethiopia following a spate of shootings and robberies, according to reports from both refugees and the #UN. Residents of the #Kumer camp, totaling 8,000, evacuated early Wednesday after being attacked and robbed by local militiamen. They trekked on foot, with about 1,000 reaching safety. Authorities detained them soon after leaving, 70 km (43 miles) from #Sudan's border in Ethiopia's #Amhara region.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (#UNHCR) acknowledged the exodus due to heightened security incidents, though Ethiopian government and regional officials have yet to comment. Since April 2023, over 1.6 million Sudanese have fled the country's civil war, with 33,000 crossing into Ethiopia. Refugees in Kumer reported insecurity for months, including kidnappings, killings, and robberies.

Amhara militiamen, in conflict with federal forces for nearly a year, have exacerbated tensions, leaving over 200 dead last year alone. "We can no longer stay here," said one refugee, citing repeated attacks. UNHCR described the camp's situation as "very difficult," noting the refugees' primary reason for leaving was feeling unsafe.

https://www.newarab.com/news/sudanese-refugees-flee-un-camp-ethiopia-following-attacks
#Ethiopia: Gov’t pledges to address safety concerns at refugee sites following incident in #Amhara region

In light of recent events at the #Awlala and #Kumer refugee sites in Ethiopia's Amhara region, the Ethiopian Refugees and Returnees Service (#RRS) has announced proactive measures to address safety concerns and improve essential services. Despite resource constraints, the RRS affirms its unwavering commitment to prioritizing the well-being of refugees in the affected areas.

This initiative comes following a United Nations report on 03 May, 2024, revealing that around 1,000 #Sudanese refugees fled the Kumer camp due to security threats, with approximately 7,000 others forced to leave after facing attacks and theft by local militia groups. Although law enforcement reportedly apprehended the refugees after their departure, the RRS acknowledges the challenges faced by refugees regarding safety and service provision at the camps.

Efforts are underway by the RRS, regional authorities, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (#UNHCR), and other partners to engage with refugees, aiming to address their concerns and enhance services despite resource limitations. Ethiopia, hosting over 1.1 million refugees, faces significant constraints in refugee response due to limited resources, hindering service provision at sites like Awlala and Kumer.

https://addisstandard.com/?p=43808
#Ethiopia grants free visa renewals to over 15,000 #Sudanese refugees residing in urban centers

Over 15,000 Sudanese refugees, fleeing civil war, are now residing in urban centers like #Addis_Abeba, with free visa renewals. This was revealed at a performance review meeting of the National Task Force, chaired by Birtukan Ayano, State Minister of Foreign Affairs.

While many live in urban areas, over 50,000 Sudanese are in camps across Ethiopia, primarily in the #Amhara and #Benishangul_Gumuz regions.

Recent security concerns at the #Kumer refugee camp in Amhara have escalated, with threats forcing around 8,000 refugees to flee. Despite these challenges, the task force remains optimistic, citing "encouraging efforts" to address the issues faced by refugees.

https://addisstandard.com/?p=44017
#Sudanese refugees in #Ethiopia face violence and humanitarian crisis

Sudanese refugees in Ethiopia's #Awlala camp endure severe hardships, including violent attacks and lack of basic necessities. Mohamed Hamid, a refugee representative, reported 1,700 incidents involving Ethiopian militias, including killings, looting, kidnapping, and assaults.

A recent tragedy involved refugees being kidnapped from an ambulance en route to #Gondar Hospital in #Amhara region. Conditions are dire, with no humanitarian aid or adequate shelters to protect from rain and sun. Over 52,758 Sudanese refugees have fled the war between the Sudanese army and #RSF, with 22,000 in the Amhara region alone.

Approximately 6,000 refugees are now hiding in a forest without basic necessities after fleeing repeated attacks at the #Kumer camp. Violence is rampant; a refugee named Amir was killed for his mobile phone. Despite multiple meetings with the #UNHCR and Ethiopian authorities, security issues remain unaddressed, and assistance is contingent on returning to the dangerous Kumer camp.

Continuous looting, such as the recent theft of six tents by armed militias, adds to their suffering. Additionally, threats of diseases like cholera loom over the refugees.

https://sudantribune.com/article286392/
#Ethiopia: #Sudanese groups urge PM Abiy to aid 6,000 refugees stranded in forests after camp attack

Sudanese organizations are urging Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed to intervene in the critical situation facing over 6,000 Sudanese refugees. Since early May 2024, these refugees fled the #Kumer camp near Ethiopia's western border after armed gunmen attacked the settlement. Displaced and vulnerable, they are now stranded in nearby forests with limited access to humanitarian aid.

The Sudanese organizations report a breakdown in essential supplies. Among the 6,000 refugees are 2,133 children, 1,017 women, 1,917 men, and a concerning number of vulnerable individuals: 1,135 people are reported ill and 76 have special needs.

The organizations are calling on the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (#UNHCR) and other humanitarian groups to address the desperate situation of these refugees.

https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20240604-calls-to-rescue-6000-sudanese-refugees-in-the-ethiopian-forests/
Rights group says Sudanese refugees face dire conditions in #Ethiopia, #Uganda

The No to Women’s Oppression initiative, which was created in 2009 to defend women's rights in #Sudan, has urgently called on the international community to address the dire situation of Sudanese refugees stranded in Ethiopia's #Kumer and #Ulala camps. The organization is appealing to the #UNHCR and Ethiopian authorities to evacuate these refugees to safer camps and provide them with essential resources.

The rights group indicated that testimonies from the camps reveal a tragic lack of medical care, resulting in multiple deaths. Shocking reports include 43 births performed under unsafe conditions and four cases of paralysis from incorrect drug injections. The camps lack basic medical supplies like oxygen and nebulizers.

The initiative estimates 6,248 Sudanese refugees in Ethiopia, including 2,133 children, 76 people with disabilities, and 1,196 sick individuals. Last year, 6,000 refugees demonstrated in Ulala camp due to insufficient food and medicine and demanded protection from a local armed group. The rights group also calls for improved living conditions and support for Sudanese refugees in Uganda’s #Kiryandongo camp.

https://www.dabangasudan.org/en/all-news/article/urgent-plea-to-aid-sudanese-refugees-in-ethiopia-and-uganda
#Ethiopia: Nine security forces killed in attack near #Kumer refugee camp

A recent attack on a security post near the Kumer refugee camp in Ethiopia's #Amhara region has resulted in at least nine government security forces killed and several others injured. The incident, which occurred on 17 July, 2024, also left a refugee child wounded.

For more information on this event, please click the link to read the full article.

https://addisstandard.com/?p=44831
Two #Sudanese refugees die in #Ethiopia attack

Two Sudanese refugees died and ten others were injured during an incident on Saturday evening in the #Awlala forests of Ethiopia's #Amhara region, where refugees have been holding a protest since early May.

An anonymous source from the Awlala camp reported that armed individuals attacked the refugees. One person died immediately, while another, identified as the spouse of the first victim, succumbed to injuries later. Ten other refugees were wounded, some seriously.

The incident occurred shortly after representatives from the Ethiopian Refugee and Returnees Commission visited the area.

This event follows recent security challenges in the region. On 17 July, an attack near the nearby #Kumer refugee camp resulted in the deaths of nine Ethiopian security personnel.

In response to security concerns, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (#UNHCR) has been working to relocate refugees. In May, approximately 1,000 Sudanese refugees left the Kumer and Awlala sites due to safety issues and inadequate services. The UNHCR is currently moving refugees to a new settlement near Assosa in the Benishangul-Gumuz region.

https://www.dabangasudan.org/en/all-news/article/two-sudanese-refugees-die-in-ethiopia-attack