Border Violence Displaces Thousands: over 50,000 flee into Kenya; host families strain to cope

NewsWorld NewsRest of World NewsEthiopia border violence displaces over 50,000, families flee to Kenya Ethiopia border violence displaces over 50,000, families flee to Kenya Edited by Mahima Sharma / TIMESOFINDIA.COM / Nov 10, 2026, 07:39 IST In recent weeks, a staggering number of over 50,000 individuals have fled from the escalating violence in Ethiopia's Moyale region, sought asylum in Kenya.

(Pic Credit: PTI) A harrowing memory continues to trouble Hawa Hassan, who fled her home in Ethiopia’s Moyale region, leaving nearly all her possessions behind. She said her house was torched amid the violence, but the incident that remains etched in her mind is the shooting of a 13-year-old girl who was sitting beside a wall.According to Hassan, the girl had not even touched a flag, a detail she cited while describing the tensions over flag displays in the disputed border region.

Her account of the teenager’s killing, however, could not be independently verified.The escape into neighbouring Kenya was equally traumatic. Speaking to Al Jazeera, Hassan said several women gave birth while fleeing, while many families arrived without food, cooking equipment or bedding.

Newborn babies were left sleeping on bare floors. Cases of diarrhoea were spreading, and families were increasingly worried about malaria as mosquito populations grew.For thousands of people, crossing into Kenya has meant escaping gunfire only to confront another battle for survival.

Finding food, shelter and basic necessities has become an immediate challenge. The influx is also placing considerable pressure on Kenyan host communities, where families have opened their homes despite having limited resources and growing fears that the violence could spread across the border.

A government-led assessment carried out on October 29 and 30 estimated that 35,950 people had been displaced as of October 24. Of these, approximately 25,000 were living with host families, while nearly 11,000 had taken shelter at temporary displacement sites.The number has increased considerably since then.

During a meeting, Kenya Red Cross regional head Malik Adan said the estimated number of people displaced by the fighting had risen from around 36,000 to more than 50,000. The figure includes those staying in temporary settlements as well as people accommodated by relatives and host families.However, the overall displacement figure has not been independently verified, and authorities have yet to establish a final count.The initial assessment covered 758 households and involved government agencies, United nations bodies, the Kenya red cross and other humanitarian organisations.

The estimates reflect different reporting periods and should not be treated as directly comparable.The conflict stems from a long-running disagreement over territorial boundaries and administrative authority between Ethiopia's Oromia and Somali regional administrations.

Tensions intensified around October 18 following the raising of the Somali regional flag in the disputed Moyale area, highlighting competing claims over the territory.For families arriving in Kenya, however, the political dispute has taken a back seat to more immediate concerns about finding somewhere to sleep and securing food for their children.Humanitarian assistance faces mounting pressure In Kenya, residents who initially welcomed displaced families into their homes are finding it increasingly difficult to sustain the support.Abdi Maalim, a member of the Moyale cross-border peace committee, told Al Jazeera that some Kenyan households had moved further inland after bullets and heavy weapons landed close to their homes.

He called for stronger border patrols to prevent armed groups from entering Kenyan territory.The influx has significantly increased the burden on local families. Households that previously prepared meals for five or six people are now catering to as many as 20 or 30.Moyale's importance as a major trading route between Kenya and Ethiopia has further complicated the situation.

Maalim said trucks transporting goods between Mombasa and Addis Ababa had remained stranded near the border for almost two weeks. Several Kenyan trucks were also stuck inside Ethiopia, while commercial activity in Moyale had slowed considerably.The closure of banks has disrupted the circulation of the Ethiopian birr, adding to the difficulties faced by traders.

With the movement of goods restricted, businesses have reported price increases of approximately 20 per cent.Concerns grow over wider regional instability You use AI every day. Now get your AI Quotient. Take the AIQ test.

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