Ethiopian Informer
ADDIS ABABA (EI): The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said Sudanese refugees residing in northwestern Ethiopia are concerned over camp services and heightened safety concerns.
“Refugees who fled the conflict in Sudan since April 2023, and are now hosted in the Kumer and Awlala camps located in the West Gondar Zone of the Amhara Region, are expressing their dissatisfaction over camp services and heightened safety concerns,” the OCHA said in its latest situation update issued Tuesday, citing the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR).
The UN humanitarian affairs coordination office said the sites are reported to have been experiencing attacks, robbery, and abductions by unknown armed groups.
As a result, some 1,300 refugees left Awlala and Kumer settlements on early last month, moving towards Gondar city. It said several of them are currently camping by the roadside around 1.5 km from the settlement, while around 300 refugees from the Kumer site are seeking shelter near a nearby police post.
Amid the existing security concerns, OCHA said humanitarian partners are liaising with local government forces to bolster security to the sites.
It said security patrols have been reinforced in both Kumar and Awlala, and with the support of a partner an additional police post is under construction at Awlala.
Noting that a mobile health clinic deployed by a partner is providing medical/ health assistance to refugees in the area, it said scaled up support is, however, necessary to meet the needs.
According to OCHA, there are currently some 150 security officers deployed in both settlements. Similar security incidents (attacks and abductions) by unknown armed groups/bandits in the area in February and March had led to the closure of the main highway limiting humanitarian movement.
(PHOTO — Makeshift shelters assembled by refugees and asylum seekers at Metema border point of entry, June 2023. Photo credit: OCHA Ethiopia/ Yosef Zegeye)
