Hundreds of Ethiopians, including women and children, have fled into neighbouring Kenya amid rising tensions between regional leaders, as gunfire near the border left a woman wounded and triggered security concerns.
Kenyan police said the arrivals began on Wednesday through several entry points in the border town of Moyale, with more people crossing into the country on Thursday.
The crossings were reportedly linked to tensions between the leaders of Ethiopia’s Oromia and Somali regional states, according to a Kenyan police security brief.
Gunfire was heard on the Ethiopian side of the border from about 5:50 a.m. on Thursday and continued afterward, the report said.
The shooting also affected areas on the Kenyan side of Moyale, where a woman sustained a gunshot wound to the neck.
According to the police report, the woman was taken to a private hospital in Moyale, where doctors removed the bullet. She was subsequently reported to be in stable condition.
A police officer also narrowly escaped injury when a bullet struck a metal bar supporting a tent at the football ground of the Moyale police station. The impact reportedly caused the officer to be struck on the head, but he was not injured.
In another incident, a bullet shattered a window at the La-Tahsan Hotel. Police did not identify the source of the gunfire.
The influx of people was reported at several crossing points, including Sessi, Kore, Biashara, Foundation and Miti, as families sought safety across the border.
The Kenya Red Cross has begun organising emergency assistance for the arrivals, including temporary shelter and the distribution of essential supplies such as cereal and porridge flour.
In a statement, the humanitarian organisation said its initial response would target 1,000 households.
The latest arrivals highlight the humanitarian implications of the tensions between Ethiopia’s regional administrations, with displaced families requiring immediate assistance and protection.
Kenyan authorities have yet to identify those responsible for the gunfire reported near Moyale or provide further details on the security situation along the border.
