Refugees from Sudan’s civil war who fled to Ethiopia are now stranded in a forest and on roadsides after repeated attacks by gunmen on their camps. About 8,000 people have left the Kumer and Awlala refugee camps in Ethiopia’s northern Amhara region since last month.
The refugees had originally fled fighting between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in April 2023, which has led to extreme hunger and accusations of ethnic cleansing in Darfur.
Despite seeking refuge in Ethiopia to escape the violence, the refugees are now facing similar dangers. “We left our country because we were scared of the stray bullets from the army and RSF,” said a young man who fled Khartoum. “Now we are facing the same danger in Ethiopia.”
The refugees are sheltering in a forest and on roadsides, with makeshift dwellings made out of branches and tarp. Many are children, and they have limited access to food and water.
The Ethiopian government’s Refugee and Returnee Service has not responded to requests for comment, despite promises to address safety and service concerns. The UNHCR has acknowledged security incidents and a “deeply challenging” security environment but has not provided further details.
The refugees say they face regular violence, including robbery, beatings, and kidnapping. Cholera has also spread in Kumer camp, where there is only one doctor available to see patients.
Monthly food deliveries by the UN World Food Programme last less than two weeks, and the refugees say they have received no assistance except for donations from Sudanese abroad. Aid workers say insecurity and a lack of funds have severely hampered relief efforts.
In a desperate bid to draw attention to their plight, about 6,000 refugees set off on a 170 km walk to the UNHCR’s headquarters in Gondar but were stopped by police and sought shelter in a forest. Many began a 10-day hunger strike, which they stopped after receiving donations.
The refugees say they have been left with no choice but to flee again, this time into the forest and onto roadsides. They are calling for greater protection and assistance from the Ethiopian government and the international community.
The crisis highlights the lack of options facing Sudan’s refugees, who are caught between conflicts in their home country and in Ethiopia, where they sought shelter. The aid group Medical Teams International has reported that one of its staff was killed in a convoy attack, underscoring the dangers faced by both refugees and aid workers.
