Over 40,000 Ethiopian refugees in Moyale as crisis deepens

By  David Muchui

Correspondent

Nation Media Group

The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) has called for increased humanitarian assistance in Moyale, following reports that approximately 40,000 people have fled the unrest in Ethiopia.

In a statement, the KNCHR said that 15,000 Ethiopians are staying in temporary camps, while more than 20,000 others are living with friends or relatives.

This was earlier confirmed by Moyale Deputy County Commissioner (DCC) Benedict Munywoki, who told Nation that the number of Ethiopians integrated with the local community is estimated to be over 25,000.

"Fighting is still ongoing with heavy gunfire and bombing being heard intermittently. As a result, more people are crossing into Kenya for safety so the numbers are higher. On Monday, humanitarian organisations helped relocate a camp with 4,800 people to a private school where there are sufficient rooms and sanitation facilities," Mr Munywoki said.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Kenya placed the number of displaced Ethiopians at about 36,000.

According to KNCHR chairperson Claris Ogangah, the influx of refugees has stretched available resources ‘particularly food, clean water, shelter, sanitation and healthcare’.

The commission warned that the ongoing rains could worsen exposure, sanitation challenges and the risk of communicable disease outbreaks.

Ms Ogangah called for upholding human rights by ensuring the refugees are handled with dignity, afforded the highest attainable standard of health, and provided with adequate housing, sanitation, food and clean water.

“KNCHR underscores the need for sustained human rights monitoring in Moyale to assess living conditions, access to essential services and protection risks, and to document alleged violations. The Commission will engage relevant duty bearers and stakeholders within its mandate to promote accountability. Response efforts must protect displaced people’s dignity while also considering the safety and legitimate needs of host communities,” the Commission stated.

DCC Munywoki said security has been heightened in Moyale town and surrounding areas with more deployment of Kenya Defence Forces, Border Patrol Unit, Rapid Deployment Unit, Anti-Terrorism Police, among other formations.

The developments come even as the Borana Baliti Council of Elders petitioned the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) to investigate Dadaab MP Farah Maalim and his Mandera East counterpart Hussein Weytan for allegedly making inflammatory remarks on the Ethiopian conflict.

The council chairman, Waqo Jattani, wants the MPs summoned to record statements over the remarks made on different platforms.

According to the complaint seen by Nation, Mr Maalim is accused of making the alleged remarks during an interview with Dhab TV, an online platform, on October 24, while Mr Weytan allegedly made inflammatory statements in a video published by Waddani Media on October 25.

The elders claim that the remarks by Mr Weytan sparked tension in Mandera, where, according to Kenya Red Cross, 200 people sought refuge in a police station following localised attacks linked to the conflict.

“As leaders committed to national peace and stability, we caution that allowing public figures to incite ethnic conflict without consequences threatens the constitutional order of Kenya,” Mr Jattani stated.

The elders also want the commission to preserve recordings of the alleged statements and recommend sanctions as per leadership and integrity requirements.

Various leaders have condemned the alleged remarks, saying they portrayed the ongoing fighting as an inter-tribal conflict rather than a regional dispute.

Saku MP Dido Rasso and his Moyale counterpart Prof Waqo Jaldesa cautioned Kenyan leaders against making statements that could worsen the conflict that is going on near the border.

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