Escaping Danger: Sudanese Refugees Seek Safety Outside UN Camp in Ethiopia After Brutal Assaults

Over 1,000 Sudanese refugees escaped a United Nations camp in northern Ethiopia due to violence, per refugees and UN sources.

Around 7,000 of the 8,000 camp residents fled on foot after being attacked and robbed by local militias.

Detained by police after leaving Kumer camp, located 70 km from the Sudanese border in Ethiopia’s Amhara region, the refugees remain anonymous for safety.

UNHCR confirmed that 1,000 people felt unsafe at Kumer and left due to security incidents on Wednesday.

Ethiopian government officials, including the federal police, did not comment on the situation.

Since the civil war in Sudan began in April 2023, over 1.6 million people have fled, with 33,000 seeking refuge in Ethiopia.

Sudanese refugees in Kumer reported facing ongoing insecurity, including kidnappings, killings, and robberies.

Amhara militiamen clash with federal forces, resulting in over 200 deaths last year, according to the UN.

Expressing fear for their safety, a refugee stated they had been abducted, killed, and attacked multiple times, prompting their decision to return to Sudan.

UNHCR labeled the camp conditions as “very difficult” and highlighted security concerns as the primary reason for the mass exodus.

Multiple security incidents, including crime, theft, robbery, shootings, and abductions, contributed to the refugees’ decision to leave.

By Giulia Paravicini, Edited by Hereward Holland and William Maclean