Hundreds of Ethiopian nationals, predominantly women and children, have reportedly crossed the international border into Kenya to escape escalating violence and gunfire in the contested border town of Moyale. Kenyan police confirmed that the displaced population entered through multiple points of entry, including the Sessi, Kore, Biashara, and Miti areas, seeking safety from the unfolding chaos.

The unrest allegedly erupted following a dispute sparked by loyalists publicly raising the flag of a neighbouring majority-Somali regional state. This symbolic act reportedly escalated rapidly into violent confrontations between rival forces from Ethiopia’s Oromia and Somali regional states, plunging the border town into severe instability and triggering widespread panic among residents.

In response to the humanitarian influx, the Kenya Red Cross announced the deployment of emergency measures, including the establishment of temporary shelters and the distribution of essential relief items such as cereal and porridge flour. Humanitarian officials stated that the initial response aims to reach approximately 1,000 households, while assessment teams continue to evaluate the exact number of affected individuals and their urgent requirements.

Observers note that this localized ethnic and regional clash is occurring hundreds of kilometers away from the broader and more devastating conflict in northern Ethiopia's Tigray region, where federal forces have long been locked in friction with rebel alliances. The latest outbreak underscores the fragile nature of internal stability and the persistent risk of localized flashpoints across the country.

Source: www.aljazeera.com