Ethiopia Clashes: 35,000 Seek Refuge in Kenya as Moyale Faces Humanitarian Strain

NAIROBI, Kenya — Thousands of people fleeing deadly clashes in southern Ethiopia are putting growing pressure on food, water, shelter and healthcare services in Kenya’s border town of Moyale, as Marsabit leaders call for urgent humanitarian assistance and stronger security.

The crisis has escalated rapidly. Kenyan authorities reported that an estimated 35,000 Ethiopians had sought refuge in Kenya by Sunday, October 25. Marsabit County Commissioner Stanley Kamande said about 15,000 were staying in temporary camps, while another 20,000 had found shelter within local communities.

The latest estimate marks a sharp increase from the more than 14,000 people reported to have crossed into Kenya by October 24, according to humanitarian officials. The figures reflect estimates made at different stages of a fast-moving displacement crisis.

For families arriving with few belongings, the immediate needs are basic: a safe place to sleep, food, clean water and medical care. For Moyale residents, the influx is adding pressure to already limited local resources while insecurity across the border disrupts trade and everyday business.

Marsabit leaders appeal to Ruto for intervention

A group of elected and aspiring leaders from Marsabit County has urged President William Ruto to engage relevant authorities and help restore calm on the Ethiopian side of the border.

Speaking at a press conference in Nairobi on Sunday, Moyale MP Guyo Wago Jaldesa and Saku MP Dido Ali Rasso raised concerns about clashes involving Oromo and Somali communities in Ethiopia’s Moyale area.

Rasso said the arrival of displaced families was placing additional demands on local infrastructure and services. He called for a peaceful resolution and greater support for civilians escaping the fighting.

The leaders also appealed to the international community and humanitarian organisations to increase assistance to affected families.

They urged residents in Kenya not to target Ethiopian nationals who live or work in the country simply because of the conflict across the border.

Their appeal comes as the violence threatens communities with close family, cultural and business links on both sides of the frontier. The leaders also called for peaceful coexistence in Marsabit, Wajir and Mandera counties, warning against allowing the fighting to fuel hostility inside Kenya.

Food, shelter and sanitation needs grow

The Kenya Red Cross Society has launched an emergency response to help families arriving in Moyale. Its initial operation targeted 1,000 households, with teams working alongside county and national authorities to provide essential supplies and assistance.

The organisation has distributed items including tents, blankets, sleeping mats, water containers and kitchen supplies. It is also providing nutritional support for young children, pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers, alongside first aid and help reconnecting relatives separated during displacement.

Kenya Red Cross Secretary General Ahmed Idris said the response was focused on helping families find safety and receive humane treatment.

“Our priority is to make sure every family arriving in Moyale is safe, sheltered and treated with dignity,” Idris said. But humanitarian workers say the needs are expanding faster than the available resources. Food, clean water and sanitation facilities remain urgent priorities, with inadequate toilets and overcrowding raising concerns about the risk of disease.

Marsabit County Commissioner Kamande has appealed to humanitarian partners to provide more blankets, tents, mosquito nets and sanitation facilities. He warned that poor shelter and cold nights were worsening conditions for displaced families.

The health situation also requires close monitoring. Kenya News Agency reported that health officials had identified three suspected measles cases among people in temporary camps. The cases were isolated pending laboratory confirmation, meaning they should not be treated as confirmed infections.

Moyale Sub-County Hospital remains part of the local emergency response, with health workers supporting people who need treatment. As the number of displaced people grows, maintaining access to healthcare and safe sanitation will be critical.

Why the fighting erupted

The violence has been reported in and around Moyale on the Ethiopian side of the border, where tensions between Ethiopia’s Oromia and Somali regional states have escalated.

Reports from Ethiopian media and regional news organisations link the latest confrontation to a dispute over the raising of the Somali Regional State flag in an area administered by Oromia. The killing of a 13-year-old girl on October 18 was also reported as a factor that heightened tensions before the fighting intensified.

Gunfire was reported from Wednesday, October 21, with clashes continuing into the following days. Reports from the area described damage to property and disruption to civilian life. At least nine deaths had been reported by Reuters on October 23, while subsequent reports referred to a higher toll. The full number of people killed or injured remains difficult to establish independently.

The cause and responsibility for the violence should be distinguished from the wider tensions between the two regional administrations. A dispute over a flag has been cited in reports as a trigger, but the broader security and political circumstances require careful verification as more information emerges.

Border trade disrupted as businesses close

The crisis is also affecting Kenya’s economy. Trucks have reportedly been unable to move goods across the border in either direction, while some shops near the Kenyan side of the One-Stop Border Post have closed because of fears over stray bullets and uncertainty about security.

Moyale is a key crossing on the Kenya–Ethiopia trade route. Disruption affects transporters and traders, as well as residents who depend on cross-border movement for supplies and income.

The longer the insecurity continues, the harder it may become for businesses to resume normal operations and for humanitarian agencies to deliver assistance smoothly. However, the extent and duration of the economic impact will depend on how the security situation develops.

Marsabit County officials say they have distributed food, including rice and beans, to displaced families. Local residents and humanitarian groups have also stepped in to provide support. The scale of the reported displacement, however, means these efforts need to be sustained and expanded.

A regional response is needed

The appeal from Marsabit leaders places pressure on Kenya’s national government to work with Ethiopian authorities and regional partners to help calm the situation, protect civilians and maintain safe passage across the border.

Humanitarian assistance is essential, but it cannot resolve the insecurity driving families from their homes. A lasting response will require efforts to prevent further violence, support people who have been displaced and enable families to return safely when conditions permit.

For now, the immediate challenge is ensuring that those arriving in Kenya can access shelter, food, clean water and medical care without exposing host communities to further hardship.

The latest figures suggest the needs in Moyale are growing quickly. The response will need to keep pace.

About the Author

Maureen Onyango is a journalist passionate about storytelling, life coaching and spiritual lessons. She studied at the Kenya Institute of Management and enjoys telling stories that inform, inspire and empower communities.