Thousands of Sudanese refugees have made a desperate decision to leave a United Nations-run camp in northern Ethiopia, citing rampant insecurity and violence. The mass exodus comes after a series of attacks, including shootings and robberies, targeting the refugees within the camp.
Why It Matters?
According to the refugees and the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), approximately 1,000 people fled the Kumer camp on foot early Wednesday morning. They reported being attacked and robbed by local militiamen, leading to a sense of extreme fear and vulnerability.
Adding to their ordeal, the refugees were detained by police shortly after leaving the camp, located about 70 kilometers from the Sudanese border. Fearing further reprisals, they requested anonymity while sharing their harrowing experiences.
What They Are Saying
UNHCR confirmed the refugees’ departure, stating they felt unsafe due to repeated security incidents. The agency acknowledged reports of crime, theft, armed robbery, shootings, and even alleged abductions within the camp.
“We can no longer stay here,” one of the refugees told Reuters by phone. “We have been abducted, killed, and attacked repeatedly since we arrived here in June. We have decided to go back to Sudan, despite the war.”
UNHCR described the situation in the camp as “very difficult.”
This exodus is a stark reflection of the dire conditions faced by Sudanese refugees in the Kumer camp. In a recent letter to UNHCR, they expressed enduring months of rampant insecurity, including kidnappings for ransom, killings, and armed robberies.
The situation is further complicated by the ongoing conflict between Ethiopian Amhara militias and federal forces in the region. This conflict has already claimed over 200 lives in the past year.
Driven to desperation, one refugee spoke to Reuters by phone, stating, “We can no longer stay here. We have been abducted, killed, and attacked repeatedly since we arrived here in June. We have decided to go back to Sudan, despite the war.”
UNHCR described the situation in the camp as “very difficult,” acknowledging the refugees’ primary reason for leaving as their overwhelming fear for their safety.
Bottom Line
This mass exodus raises serious concerns about the ability to protect vulnerable populations caught in the crossfire of regional conflicts. The UN and Ethiopian authorities must urgently address the security issues plaguing the Kumer camp and ensure the safety of those seeking refuge within its borders.
