By No. 1 Citizen and agencies
Security situation in Nasir and Ulang counties has forced thousands of people to cross to Ethiopia’s Gambella region, according to a UNHCR report published this week.
Local authorities report that more than 10,000 people have fled across the border into the Gambella region as of March 10, a sharp increase from the 6,900 people recorded just a few days earlier on March 6.
These new arrivals, predominantly from South Sudan’s Upper Nile State, are crossing through the Burbiey border of Gambella region, according to the report.
Local authorities are tracking and assisting the displaced individuals, who are dispersed across various communities, especially in the Burbiey and Matar areas, according to UNHCR.
Many are seeking shelter with local communities, while others have found refuge in makeshift shelters using plastic sheeting. UNHCR Country Representative in Ethiopia, Andrew Mbogori, has called for more resources to respond to the growing needs of the displaced populations.
“The absorption capacity in the border areas is severely overstretched, and local authorities are facing significant challenges in managing the crisis. The numbers are expected to continue rising, creating a more urgent need for assistance,” said Mbogori.
The Gambella regional administration, alongside Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), are currently the only first responders on the ground providing first aid, treatment and referral services for an ongoing cholera outbreak in the region.
Some of the refugees arriving in Gambella have sustained wounds as a result of the conflict in South Sudan, and are receiving medical treatment from MSF, according to local officials.
UNHCR has engaged in cross-border meetings between South Sudan, Sudan, Kenya, Uganda, DRC and Ethiopia in a bid to better understand the situation, according to the report.
Meanwhile, cholera is spreading rapidly across western Ethiopia, making the situation worse and endangering thousands of lives. Over 1,500 cases and 31 deaths have so far been reported by the Gambella Health Bureau.
The report indicates that violence and new cholera hotspots in South Sudan’s Upper Nile and Jonglei states are pushing hundreds across the border in search of urgent medical care.
“MSF teams are responding on both sides of the border. In Ethiopia, we are treating patients, providing clean water, and raising awareness about the disease. In South Sudan, we are delivering lifesaving care in Malakal, Ulang, and Akobo, supporting the Ministry of Health in containing the disease,” reads an MSF statement released this week.
South Sudan has been in the grip of a deadly cholera outbreak since October 2024. Akobo County has reported over 1,300 cases in just four weeks, while MSF has treated close to 350 cases in Ulang over the past month, according to the statement.
“The violence in South Sudan’s Upper Nile state is worsening the outbreak. Thousands are being displaced, losing access to healthcare, safe water, and sanitation—key factors driving the rapid spread of cholera. An urgent support to health facilities, provision of safe water and a cholera vaccination campaign is needed in the affected areas to stop the spread of the disease,” says MSF.
Similar conditions are fueling the spread of cholera in Gambella, according to the organization.
ٍSince late February, escalating clashes between government forces and armed groups in South Sudan’s Upper Nile state has led to increased cross- border movements with refugees and injured people fleeing to Ethiopia.
Last week, Ethiopian delegation led by minister of Foreign Affairs Gedion Timothewos paid a one day working visit to South Sudan. The delegation included Ambassador Redwan Hussein, Director General of the National Intelligence and Security Services, and Commissioner General Demelash Gebremichael, Chief of the Federal Police of Ethiopia. the delegation met with president Salva Kiir.
The discussions underscored the importance of peace and stability in South Sudan and its regional significance. The discussion also touched upon the recent developments in Upper Nile State and the ongoing tensions between organized forces in the Nasir region of Upper Nile State and various areas of Western Equatoria State, according to statement of Ethiopia’s foreign ministry.
Furthermore, Gedion stressed the necessity to take decisive action to address the current situation, emphasizing the need to de-escalate tensions and ensure stability through the full implementation of the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS), which is crucial for alleviating existing tensions.