Ethiopia border violence displaces over 50,000, families flee to Kenya

In recent weeks, a staggering number of over 50,000 individuals have fled from the escalating violence in Ethiopia’s Moyale region, sought asylum in Kenya. (Pic Credit: PTI)

A harrowing memory continues to trouble Hawa Hassan, who fled her home in Ethiopia’s Moyale region, leaving nearly all her possessions behind. She said her house was torched amid the violence, but the incident that remains etched in her mind is the shooting of a 13-year-old girl who was sitting beside a wall.According to Hassan, the girl had not even touched a flag, a detail she cited while describing the tensions over flag displays in the disputed border region. Her account of the teenager’s killing, however, could not be independently verified.The escape into neighbouring Kenya was equally traumatic. Speaking to Al Jazeera, Hassan said several women gave birth while fleeing, while many families arrived without food, cooking equipment or bedding. Newborn babies were left sleeping on bare floors. Cases of diarrhoea were spreading, and families were increasingly worried about malaria as mosquito populations grew.For thousands of people, crossing into Kenya has meant escaping gunfire only to confront another battle for survival. Finding food, shelter and basic necessities has become an immediate challenge. The influx is also placing considerable pressure on Kenyan host communities, where families have opened their homes despite having limited resources and growing fears that the violence could spread across the border.

Displacement numbers continue to rise

A government-led assessment carried out on October 29 and 30 estimated that 35,950 people had been displaced as of October 24. Of these, approximately 25,000 were living with host families, while nearly 11,000 had taken shelter at temporary displacement sites.The number has increased considerably since then. During a meeting, Kenya Red Cross regional head Malik Adan said the estimated number of people displaced by the fighting had risen from around 36,000 to more than 50,000. The figure includes those staying in temporary settlements as well as people accommodated by relatives and host families.However, the overall displacement figure has not been independently verified, and authorities have yet to establish a final count.The initial assessment covered 758 households and involved government agencies, United nations bodies, the Kenya red cross and other humanitarian organisations. The estimates reflect different reporting periods and should not be treated as directly comparable.The conflict stems from a long-running disagreement over territorial boundaries and administrative authority between Ethiopia’s Oromia and Somali regional administrations. Tensions intensified around October 18 following the raising of the Somali regional flag in the disputed Moyale area, highlighting competing claims over the territory.For families arriving in Kenya, however, the political dispute has taken a back seat to more immediate concerns about finding somewhere to sleep and securing food for their children.

Humanitarian assistance faces mounting pressure

Mwasaru Mercy, Kenya’s acting commissioner for refugee affairs, told Al Jazeera that a multi-agency government team had been sent to Moyale. The Department of Refugee Services is working alongside local authorities and the United nations high commissioner for refugees (UNHCR) to coordinate relief efforts.However, continued reports of gunfire have raised concerns about further displacement. Many of those arriving urgently require food, shelter, blankets, bedding and mosquito nets.“There are no contingency food stocks specifically for this incident because it happened abruptly,” Mercy said.The authorities are attempting to mobilise humanitarian agencies and donors to provide assistance. A dedicated refugee camp has not yet been established, as officials want the security situation to improve before taking such a step. Meanwhile, the government is coordinating with UNHCR to register arrivals and assess their requirements.According to Mercy, those affected include Ethiopians escaping the violence, traders and Kenyan residents who have been forced to leave their homes after stray ammunition landed in their neighbourhoods.Fatima Mohammed Cole, UNHCR’s representative in Kenya, said women and children account for a significant proportion of the new arrivals. Displaced families are scattered across several locations, including six sites accommodating Ethiopian nationals.The immediate requirements include shelter, food and medical assistance. Overcrowded living conditions have also raised fears of disease outbreaks.Cole said gunfire continued to be heard in Moyale and called for a ceasefire to allow displaced families to return safely to their homes.Relief operations are also taking place on the Ethiopian side of the border. The Ethiopian red cross society said it had distributed emergency shelter materials and essential household supplies worth approximately 30 million Ethiopian birr ($182,970) to 1,000 households displaced from Moyale town and nearby areas.The assistance includes 2,000 tarpaulins, blankets, sleeping mats, dignity kits, water containers, kitchen sets, soap and solar lamps. The organisation said distribution of the supplies was under way. These relief efforts are separate from the humanitarian response being carried out in Kenya.

Host communities struggle to cope

In Kenya, residents who initially welcomed displaced families into their homes are finding it increasingly difficult to sustain the support.Abdi Maalim, a member of the Moyale cross-border peace committee, told Al Jazeera that some Kenyan households had moved further inland after bullets and heavy weapons landed close to their homes. He called for stronger border patrols to prevent armed groups from entering Kenyan territory.The influx has significantly increased the burden on local families. Households that previously prepared meals for five or six people are now catering to as many as 20 or 30.Moyale’s importance as a major trading route between Kenya and Ethiopia has further complicated the situation. Maalim said trucks transporting goods between Mombasa and Addis Ababa had remained stranded near the border for almost two weeks. Several Kenyan trucks were also stuck inside Ethiopia, while commercial activity in Moyale had slowed considerably.The closure of banks has disrupted the circulation of the Ethiopian birr, adding to the difficulties faced by traders. With the movement of goods restricted, businesses have reported price increases of approximately 20 per cent.

Concerns grow over wider regional instability

Security analyst Dr Abdiwahab Sheikh Abdisamad told Al Jazeera that the violence had evolved beyond a local territorial disagreement, exposing deeper ethnic divisions and political rivalry between Ethiopia’s regional administrations.He said perceptions of Oromo expansionism, along with allegations that the federal government was supporting Oromia’s regional leadership, could further intensify mistrust between communities.The possibility of armed fighters crossing into Kenya, stray ammunition hitting civilian areas and additional displacement has also turned the situation into a security concern for Nairobi, alongside the growing refugee emergency.Kenya’s Inspector General of Police, Douglas Kanja, announced that additional security personnel would be deployed along the border to strengthen surveillance and prevent further incidents.During a visit to Moyale on November 5, Kanja said Kenya was in discussions with Ethiopia’s federal government to help bring an end to the fighting.He said approximately 10,000 people were living in temporary shelters and public institutions, while others had found accommodation with host families. Kanja also confirmed that a Kenyan national had died after being struck by a stray bullet. A police report indicated that an Ethiopian man had also died from gunshot injuries sustained in Kenya.The figure of 10,000 refers specifically to people staying in temporary shelters and public institutions. It does not represent the total number of displaced people and should not be directly compared with the Kenya Red Cross estimate of more than 50,000, which also includes those living with host families.For Hassan, returning home remains the ultimate hope, but she is unwilling to do so until conditions become safe. For now, she and thousands of other displaced people must depend on local communities and humanitarian organisations for their survival.As the fighting continues, the pressure on host families and already stretched relief operations is expected to grow, making it increasingly difficult to accommodate the growing number of people seeking refuge.Maalim said residents had already exhausted much of their available resources while providing shelter and food to those fleeing Ethiopia.“Previously, we were supplying this town alone. Now we are literally taking care of two towns together,” he told Al Jazeera.