In the wake of a spate of shootings and robberies, over 1,000 Sudanese refugees have fled a United Nations-operated camp in northern Ethiopia, according to accounts from three refugees and confirmation from the United Nations.
The exodus unfolded as residents of the Kumer camp, comprising around 8,000 individuals, embarked on a mass departure on foot early Wednesday morning.
They recounted being targeted and robbed by local militia members, prompting their flight from the camp located approximately 70 km (43 miles) from the Sudanese border within Ethiopia’s Amhara region. Requesting anonymity due to fears of retaliation, the refugees disclosed that they were subsequently detained by law enforcement shortly after vacating the premises.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) acknowledged the departure of 1,000 individuals from Kumer on Wednesday, citing concerns over safety in the aftermath of multiple security incidents.
Despite attempts to obtain comments from various authorities, including the Ethiopian government, the Amhara regional administration, federal police, and the national refugee agency, no responses were received.
The ongoing conflict in Sudan has propelled over 1.6 million individuals to seek refuge abroad since its eruption in April 2023, with approximately 33,000 finding sanctuary in Ethiopia, as reported by UNHCR.
In a recent communication to UNHCR, Sudanese refugees residing in Kumer detailed months of pervasive insecurity, marked by incidents of kidnapping for ransom, fatalities, and armed robberies.
Against the backdrop of a year-long conflict between Amhara militia groups and federal forces across the region, resulting in over 200 casualties last year according to the United Nations, one refugee articulated the dire situation, stating, “We can no longer stay here… We have decided to go back to Sudan, despite the war.”
UNHCR characterized conditions within the camp as “very difficult,” emphasizing that safety concerns were the primary impetus for the mass departure, citing numerous reports of criminal activities, theft, armed assaults, shootings, and purported abductions.
