Moyale crisis: UN agencies seek Sh1bn as Ethiopian refugees hit 50,000

By  David Muchui

Correspondent

Nation Media Group

United Nations agencies are appealing for Sh1.16 billion ($8.9 million) to support about 50,000 people who have fled to Kenya following clashes in neighbouring Ethiopia.

In a statement, UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Representative in Kenya Fatima Mohammed-Cole said the agency is working with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) to raise resources to support the refugees over the next three months. She said the money would go towards food, shelter, water and sanitation, registration and protection services.

"UNHCR is mobilising emergency relief supplies, including essential household items and temporary shelter materials, to support nearly 12,000 people, with efforts underway to scale up assistance as needs grow. UNHCR is also supporting ongoing assessments of protection and humanitarian needs," Ms Mohammed-Cole said.

Influx continues

Humanitarian workers in Moyale continued to record an influx of people fleeing for safety, even as the sound of gunshots could still be heard from the Kenyan side of the border.

According to Kenya Red Cross Society (KRCS) Upper Eastern Region head Malik Adan, more refugees were arriving in Moyale town, while others remained in the camps.

"There is relative calm on Friday afternoon, though we woke up to the sounds of gunshots across the border. The biggest camp, which was relocated out of town, has about 5,000 people, mostly women and children," Mr Adan said.

The Kenya Red Cross earlier reported that the first baby born to a refugee mother had been safely delivered at a local hospital on Friday.

Planning for up to 80,000

In a separate statement, IOM said the Government of Kenya and inter-agency partners were planning a response covering up to 80,000 people, in anticipation of further arrivals and growing humanitarian needs. It noted that arrival figures remained preliminary and could change as more information became available.

"Thousands of people have crossed into Kenya seeking safety, and most are being sheltered by local communities. The situation remains fluid, and the numbers of arrivals could increase in the coming days.

"Meeting their immediate needs, while also supporting the communities who are now hosting thousands, is an urgent priority," said IOM Kenya Chief of Mission Nomagugu Ncube.

Ms Ncube said IOM was planning an emergency response that would include shelter and essential household items, targeted emergency shelter for the most vulnerable families, water tanks and water-purifying tablets, as well as assessments and monitoring.

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