UN allocates Sh387 million for Ethiopian refugees in Moyale

By  David Muchui

Correspondent

Nation Media Group

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (Unocha) has allocated more than Sh387 million to support thousands of people displaced by fighting in neighbouring Moyale, Ethiopia.

According to Mr Tom Fletcher, the UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, the funds will go towards the delivery of life-saving food, water, shelter and healthcare.

The funds were provided through the UN's Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) and will benefit more than 50,000 people who have fled into Kenya.

The funding is a major boost to humanitarian efforts and comes days after UN agencies published an appeal for up to Sh1.16 billion.

Humanitarian agencies are now estimating that the number of Ethiopians who have crossed into Kenya has surpassed 50,000. According to an assessment report published by the Unacho Regional Office for Southern and Eastern Africa, women and children account for the majority of arrivals, alongside older persons and persons with disabilities.

"Many were sheltering in public buildings, open spaces and along roadsides, increasing protection and public health risks, including open defecation. People living with chronic medical conditions risked running out of essential medication."

"Host communities continued to support new arrivals, but the influx was placing increasing pressure on local services and could heighten tensions over limited resources," the report states.

The report further identifies water, sanitation and hygiene as among the most urgent needs in the seven camps hosting displaced people.

"An estimated 410 additional latrines were required across four sites, including 342 at OMC camp. Additional priorities included water trucking, handwashing facilities, water storage and solid waste management."

"In Arosa alone, an estimated 19,650 litres of water per day were needed to meet basic requirements. Food and nutrition assistance was required for 9,768 families," it states.

Unocha also cites the need for humanitarian intervention to support 313 displaced people in Mandera.

"In Ethiopia, regional authorities reported large-scale internal displacement across eight districts in Oromia Region and two districts in Somali Region. The majority of the displaced are hosted by local communities," the report states.

Unocha says about 200 Ethiopian schools have been closed as a result of the fighting. According to the Ethiopian Red Cross Society (ERCS), the conflict has reportedly displaced more than 200,000 people across Moyale and neighbouring areas.

"The Ethiopian Red Cross Society has provided Emergency Shelter and Non-Food Item assistance worth about Sh24 million to 1,000 households displaced by the recent conflict in Moyale Town and surrounding Kebeles," the society said in a statement.

On the Kenyan side, the Kenya Red Cross Society and other organisations have continued to provide meals and health services over the past 18 days, reaching more than 13,000 people.

Due to the conflict pitting Oromia against Somali regional forces, the United Kingdom Embassy, on Friday issued a travel advisory to British citizens warning against non-essential travel to Moyale.

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