https://www.dabangasudan.org/en/all-news/article/1-000-flee-ethiopia-for-sudan-following-clashes
1,000 flee Ethiopia for Sudan following clashes
September 2 - 2016 EL GALLABAT
El Gedaref state (OCHA)
About 1,000 Ethiopians reportedly crossed the border into Sudan’s El
Gedaref state on Wednesday and Thursday, following violence in the
Ethiopian City of El Metemma.
A witness from El Gallabat told Radio Dabanga that intense clashes in
Ethiopia’s Alomehra Province prompted many people to cross the border
into Sudan.
“Government authorities have transferred the fleeing Ethiopians to
Basunda city, where a delegation from the Office of the Commissioner
of Refugees went to investigate the conditions of the Ethiopians
fleeing war”.
Tensions
The border strip between Sudan and Ethiopia is often the scene of
severe tension as a result of Ethiopian militia members who occupy
agricultural lands in areas of Shangal and Gala El Luban in El
Gedaref.
Farmers have told Radio Dabanga that disputes and tension have
affected the living conditions and the stability in the region.
They downplayed the importance of the signed agreements between the
Sudanese and Ethiopian authorities, and instead demanded the Sudanese
government to secure their farms with the support of the army. The
Popular Defence Forces are unable to provide security or stability in
the region, the farmers added.
In July this year, Interior Minister Esmat Abdelrahman acknowledged
the incursion of the Ethiopian 'Shifta' gangs into the western areas
of El Gedaref. Over the past few years, the violence between armed
farmers in El Gedaref's border areas rapidly increased, with many
reports of Ethiopian gangs attacking Sudanese farmers in the border
areas, extorting them, and occupying their lands.
At the end of last year, people in El Gedaref criticised the Sudanese
government for failing to complete the demarcation of the border with
Ethiopia, causing friction between Ethiopians and Sudanese over land
issues.
Received on Sat Sep 03 2016 - 15:57:05 EDT