Dec 21, 2020(Nyamilepedia) — Sudanese humanitarian authorities on Sunday reported that the number of refugees from Ethiopia who have crossed to Sudan have now reached 55000.
According to a report issued by the Emergency Committee in the State of Gedaref, on Saturday, the Hamdayet (Border Reception) Center received 442 new refugees, while the Hashaba Center received 263 new deserters.
Aid workers in the reception centres say they are concerned about the increase of refugees pointing out that they do not have the needful means to accommodate more refugees despite the efforts done by the international community and aid groups but they remain insufficient.
Sudanese government said that Kassala and Gadaref states have exerted more efforts to provide clothing, food and clean drinking water to refugees, despite the pressing economic conditions in the country.
It has also prepared a new refugee camp in Al-Tanideba area of Gadaref State which is expected to receive about 30,000 refugees who will be transferred from the border reception centres.
A local news agency met with newcomers who said that the recent wave of Ethiopian refugees arrived from Birkuta following the outbreak of armed clashes between the Amhara militiamen and Tigray fighters.
The incoming refugees said that TPLF forces seek to dislodge the FANO militiamen from the area and retake control of Birkuta in northern Tigray
The Ethiopian ambassador to Sudan said his government in collaboration with the Sudanese authorities and the UNHCR will seek to convince the refugees to return to their areas of origin.
In a speech delivered at the IGAD meeting on Sunday, the head of the African Union Commission Moussa Faki on Sunday said the Tigray crisis has provoked large scale displacement.
“We encourage IGAD to support Ethiopia in addressing humanitarian dimensions. Particular attention should be paid to refugees and displaced people,” he further said.
Ethiopian federal army retook control of the Tigray capital Mekelle last November, however, the TPLF fighters continue to clash with the federal army in different locations in the region, despite the official statements about the end of the military operations in Tigray.
