The battles and violence occurring in the border city of Moyale between Ethiopia and Kenya have caused widespread displacement, with nearly 50,000 people fleeing their homes and crossing into Kenya to escape the conflict.
The United Nations reported that the displaced individuals comprise civilian families fleeing heavy clashes that erupted over the past week in Moyale and its surrounding areas.
The violence has also forced numerous businesses to shut down, bringing commercial transport and transit across the city to a complete standstill.
UNHCR Representative to Kenya, Fatima Mohammed-Abdi, warned that the number of displaced persons could surge further unless combat operations are immediately halted.
According to local residents, the conflict erupted after the flag of the Somali Regional State of Ethiopia was raised over a disputed territory in Moyale city, subsequently triggering armed clashes between local communal groups.
Moyale is a vital border city jointly administered by Oromo and Somali regional authorities, where tensions over territorial ownership and administrative jurisdiction have persisted for a prolonged period.
The fighting has inflicted severe casualties, including fatalities, injuries, and property destruction, driving widespread civilian displacement while confronting local merchants and cross-border traders with severe economic losses.
On the Kenyan side, government authorities expressed grave concern over the influx of civilians crossing the border seeking humanitarian refuge in Kenyan territory.
Members of Parliament Guyo Waqo Jaldesa (Moyale Constituency) and Dido Ali Rasso (Saku Constituency) convened a joint press conference in Nairobi, appealing to the Kenyan government and international aid organizations to deliver immediate relief to affected populations.
Dido Ali Rasso stated that ongoing combat on the Ethiopian side of the border has forced massive civilian flows into Kenya, placing extreme pressure on public services, local infrastructure, and regional resources.
The situation in Moyale remains a critical concern for residents on both sides of the frontier, as continued hostilities threaten security, commerce, and population mobility along a primary economic corridor connecting Ethiopia and Kenya.