Families who fled Ethiopia for Kenya’s Moyale need food, water and shelter

Meals are prepared in Moyale, Kenya, for people fleeing violence in neighbouring Ethiopia.

The International Organization of Migration (IOM) and partners are calling for urgent funding to support tens of thousands of people who have escaped violent clashes in Ethiopia for the Moyale region in northern Kenya.

"Families who fled are facing serious shortages of food, water and adequate shelter, while communities hosting them are already facing limited resources ,” said Nomagugu Ncube, IOM Kenya Chief of Mission.

Roughly 50,000 people have crossed the border since late October and are now struggling to meet their basic needs, according to a rapid assessment of 758 households conducted by the Kenyan authorities with support from IOM, fellow UN agencies and non-governmental organizations (NGOs).

It found that 71 per cent do not have enough to eat and 80 per cent identify food as their most urgent need .

Water and sanitation are also major concerns. Nearly half of the households, 44 per cent, reported insufficient access to drinking water, while more than three-quarters have no handwashing facility.

Additionally, more than half of households said they have difficulties accessing healthcare , mainly due to high costs and shortages of medicines.

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