Moyale, a town split in two by the border, heard the sound of gunfire once more on Friday, October 30. The shots came from the Ethiopian side, where violence has dragged on for more than a week. An Associated Press journalist filming from Kenyan territory managed to record the exchanges, as whole families kept crossing over in search of safety.
At the root of the crisis lies a longstanding territorial dispute between two Ethiopian regions, Oromia and the Somali region. Tensions boiled over in mid-October following a row over the raising of a Somali Regional State flag and the killing of a 13-year-old boy on October 18. Three days later, on October 21, fighting broke out in the Ethiopian part of Moyale, drawing in regional forces and local militias.
The speed of the exodus has been striking. On October 23, Kenyan authorities counted roughly 2,500 people sheltering in the town. A week on, the International Organization for Migration estimates that close to 50,000 have reached Marsabit County. Many have found a roof with relatives or local residents, while others are crowded into five temporary sites as well as schools and churches. Women and children make up most of the new arrivals.
Arriving at a precise figure remains difficult. According to Benedict Munywoki, deputy county commissioner for Moyale, some of those fleeing are staying in town rather than moving into camps, which complicates registration. The IOM describes the situation as fluid and does not rule out further waves of arrivals in the coming days.
The humanitarian response is gathering pace. UNHCR, UNICEF, the IOM and the World Food Programme have launched a joint appeal for $8.9 million to support up to 50,000 people over three months. Food, clean water, shelter, sanitation and healthcare top the list of needs. At a camp set up by the Kenya Red Cross, health workers spent Thursday weighing children and measuring their upper arms to screen for malnutrition, while meals simmered in large pots over wood fires.
Security is still a pressing concern for residents, who face the threat of stray bullets. Police and the Kenya Defence Forces are patrolling the town and the border around the clock. UNHCR, for its part, is working to move refugees to sites further away from the flashpoint.
The local economy is also paying the price. A strategic crossing point between northern Kenya and southern Ethiopia, Moyale has seen trade grind to a halt, with cargo trucks stranded on both sides of the border.
This latest flare-up adds to the many conflicts already straining Ethiopia, a country of some 130 million people. For now, for the people of Moyale, the emergency is measured in meals, shelter and nights without gunfire.