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July 12, 2024 (Addis Ababa) – Sudanese refugees in Ethiopia face a dire situation with fever outbreaks among children, lack of medical facilities and frequent violence in refugee camps in the Amhara region.
Some 6,000 Sudanese refugees, including about 2,300 women and children, are enduring harsh conditions in the Olara forest. According to the Amhara Regional Sudanese Refugee Commission, 45 children have died in recent months.
The report also highlighted that more than 2,000 children aged between 3 months and 17 years suffered from malnutrition, diarrhea and colds due to limited food options. Refugees confirmed to Sudan Tribune that unhygienic conditions have worsened health conditions, especially for children, with an increase in cases of fever and malaria.
Last week alone, 154 children were diagnosed with fever, bringing the number of sick children to 210. A video shot in the forest and shared with Sudan Tribune shows a displaced person pleading for help. He said the refugees have been enduring harsh conditions for 71 days without any assistance from international humanitarian organizations. He also accused the international community of ignoring their plight.
He reiterated the problem of widespread fever among children, lack of basic medicines and inadequate medical facilities, and called for urgent intervention by the international community, stressing the refugees’ desperation and their desire to be transferred to third countries.
The situation is exacerbated by the fact that 10 of the 76 children in urgent need of medical attention have special needs, a situation made more critical by the restrictions on their movement due to the onset of the rainy season.
To make matters worse, the UNHCR team preparing to set up a refugee camp was attacked by Ethiopian militias, and a proposal to relocate to a new area was rejected.
Despite these challenges, UNHCR Representative Andrew Mbogori recently visited the new refugee settlement of Ora, where more than 2,000 Sudanese refugees have been transferred and plans are in place to take in more than 12,000 in the coming months.
Unfortunately, violence continues. In the Sudanese refugee camp “Al Koma – Olala”, refugees have been attacked more than 1,700 times. Last week, a Sudanese refugee was kidnapped and militias demanded a ransom of $3,000 for his release.
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