IOM
Tens of thousands of people who fled violence in Ethiopia and crossed into northern Kenya are facing acute shortages of food, clean water and shelter, according to a new assessment led by the Government of Kenya and the County Government of Marsabit, with support from the International Organization for Migration (IOM), UN partners and NGOs.
An estimated 50,000 people have arrived in Kenya's Moyale area as of 29 October following violent clashes in Ethiopia. Many arrived with limited belongings and are now struggling to meet their basic needs.
"Families who fled are facing serious shortages of food, water and adequate shelter, while communities hosting them are already facing limited resources," said Nomagugu Ncube, IOM Kenya Chief of Mission. "Assistance needs to reach both these displaced families and the communities that have opened their homes to them."
Food shortages are affecting most of the displaced families, with 71 per cent of households surveyed reporting that they did not have enough to eat and 80 per cent identifying food as their most urgent need. Families are also struggling to access clean water, adequate shelter and healthcare, underscoring the urgent need for food assistance and other essential humanitarian support.
Most displaced families are staying with relatives or other members of the host community, adding to the demand for food, water and shelter. Others have sought refuge in schools and temporary sites, with some sleeping in the open.
Nearly all households surveyed (96 per cent) had fled Ethiopia, mainly from the Oromia and Somali regions. Nine in ten people reported that their entire village had fled, highlighting the scale of displacement.
Children account for more than half of those displaced, including many under the age of five, raising concerns about their health and well-being amid worsening living conditions.
Water and sanitation are also major concerns. Nearly half of households surveyed (44 per cent) reported insufficient access to drinking water, while more than three-quarters reported having no handwashing facility. Conditions were particularly difficult at the temporary displacement sites of Somare, Taqwa Mosque and St. Mary's Catholic, where access to water and sanitation was severely limited.
More than half of the households also reported difficulties accessing nearby healthcare, mainly because of high costs and shortages of medicines.
The findings come from a rapid assessment conducted from 29 to 30 October by the Government of Kenya and the County Government of Marsabit with support from IOM, UN agencies and humanitarian partners. The assessment covered 758 households in temporary displacement sites and host communities in Moyale and will help guide assistance to those most in need.
To assist the response, IOM and humanitarian partners are calling for urgent funding to address food, emergency shelter, clean water, sanitation and healthcare priorities for displaced families and the communities hosting them.
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