About 36,000 people have fled recent clashes in southern Ethiopia and crossed into Kenya, the United Nations said on Tuesday, 27 October. The UN refugee agency, UNHCR, said it is closely following the situation along the Ethiopia-Kenya border, where people are escaping violence in Moyale. Fighting began last week after a flag of the Somali region was raised in the town, which sits near the Kenyan border.
UNHCR spokeswoman Eujin Byun told AFP that the number of people crossing at Moyale has risen sharply since 22 October. Many of those fleeing are women and children. Some are staying with relatives, while others are in temporary shelters. UNHCR said food aid is the priority, along with urgent needs for drinking water, shelter, sanitation and health care.
The agency said it is working with other UN bodies, the Kenyan Red Cross and other humanitarian partners to support Kenya’s government response. It said its immediate priority is to identify and meet the urgent needs of people seeking safety, while supporting local communities that are welcoming them.
Ethiopia, Africa’s second most populous country with about 130 million people, is dealing with several armed conflicts. Borders between regions, drawn up under the 1991 constitution, are often a source of conflict. Federal forces have fought rebel groups for years in Oromia and Amhara, the two most populous regions. After months of tension, fighting has also resumed in the northern Tigray region. Tensions with neighbouring Eritrea are also raising fears of a new war.
Reference
Le Monde avec AFP. (2026, October 27). Ethiopie : 36 000 personnes ont fui au Kenya, en raison des affrontements dans le sud du pays. Le Monde. https://www.lemonde.fr/afrique/article/2026/10/27/ethiopie-36-000-personnes-ont-fui-au-kenya-apres-les-affrontements-dans-le-sud-du-pays_6801316_3212.html