May 7. (EUROPE PRESS) –
The United Nations estimates that more than 12,000 Sudanese residents, most of them Ethiopians, have arrived in Ethiopia during the past two weeks of conflict between the Sudanese Army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) through the Metema Pass.
This step has been registering approximately 1,000 arrivals a day since April 21, the majority of Ethiopian citizens residing in Sudan who have decided to flee back to their country, according to a latest evaluation by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. (OCHA).
Other nationalities include Sudanese, Eritreans, Somalis, Americans (many with dual Sudanese nationality), Syrians, and Ghanaians.
From Metema, the arrivals have two options, either continue their march towards their countries of origin or try to settle in Ethiopia, a country whose resources to care for the displaced population have been severely weakened after the catastrophic war in Tigray.
Primary care will be essential for those who decide to stay at the border, says the UN, which is requesting help so that “hot food, drinking water and latrines” arrive, as well as “emergency accommodation” suitable for new arrivals.
