Ethiopia conflict: thousands of Eritrean refugees flee new deadly attack on camp

Thousands of Eritrean refugees in Ethiopia have fled their camp in Afar region after a deadly attack earlier this month, the UN refugee agency, UNHCR, said on Friday.

The UN agency told journalists in Geneva that unidentified assailants targeted Barahle camp on 3 February after fighting engulfed the area, according to harrowing accounts provided by refugees.

“Refugees who trekked the long distance to the regional capital in Semera told UNHCR staff that armed men entered the camp on 3 February, stole their belongings and occupied their homes,” said UNHCR spokesperson Boris Cheshirkov. “According to their testimonies, at least five refugees were killed. Family members lost one another in the chaos of fleeing the camp.”

The attack is just the latest instance where Eritrean nationals living in Ethiopia have come under fire, since conflict erupted and spread from the northern region of Tigray in November 2020.

A joint investigation by the UN human rights office, OHCHR, and the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission (EHRC) in November 2021 highlighted how Tigrayan and national Ethiopian fighters had put the security and lives of thousands at risk in Shimelba camp, between November 2020 and January 2021.

Following the attack in Afar, Mr. Cheshirkov said that over 4,000 refugees had reached Semera, “where UNHCR together with the Ethiopian Refugees and Returnees Service and other partners are providing immediate support with shelter, relief items, food as well as clean water”.

Another 10,000 refugees are also reported to be living in Afdera town, some 225 kilometres from Semera, the UN official explained. “Others are also believed to have fled towards the towns of Altefa and Dabure, which is further inland.”

Just last month, UNHCR urged the international community to do more to end the fighting in northern Ethiopia after finally reaching Eritrean refugees in Tigray region “scared and struggling to get enough to eat”.

That alert came after air strikes in and near the camps of Mai Aini and Adi Harush, home to more than 25,000 refugees.

“With yet another refugee camp severely impacted, UNHCR remains extremely worried about the safety and wellbeing of thousands of Eritrean refugees caught up in the conflict,” Mr. Cheshirkov said.

“We are extremely worried about those that are cut off from aid and have not been accounted for so far. What is important, and we've made this call in other contexts, we make it here again: we need to see an end of hostilities. Hostilities must cease and humanitarian access must be provided so that we can be there and help the people who have urgent needs.”

1. Exterior wide shot, UN Palace of Nations, Geneva. Flags flying.
2. Medium shot, podium speakers with TV screen showing speakers to rear.
3. SOUNDBITE (English): Boris Cheshirkov, spokesperson for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR): “Refugees who trekked the long distance to the regional capital in Semera told UNHCR staff that armed men entered the camp on 3 February, stole their belongings and occupied their homes. According to their testimonies, at least five refugees were killed, and several women were kidnapped.”
4. Medium shot, masked participants listening and taking notes.
5. SOUNDBITE (English): Boris Cheshirkov, spokesperson for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR): “So far, over 4,000 refugees are in Semera where UNHCR together with the Ethiopian Refugees and Returnees Service and other partners are providing immediate support with shelter, relief items, food as well as clean water.”
6. Close-up, masked participant listening to briefing.
7. SOUNDBITE (English): Boris Cheshirkov, spokesperson for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR): “Around 10,000 refugees are also reported to be living in Afdera town, which is approximately 225 kilometres from Semera. Others are also believed to have fled towards the towns of Altefa and Dabure, which is further inland.”
8. Medium shot, TV camera tripod in foreground, masked participant to rear.
9. SOUNDBITE (English): Boris Cheshirkov, spokesperson for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR): “With yet another refugee camp severely impacted, UNHCR remains extremely worried about the safety and wellbeing of thousands of Eritrean refugees caught up in the conflict.”
10. Close-up, participant’s hand holding a pen, using computer mouse.
11. SOUNDBITE (English): Boris Cheshirkov, spokesperson for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR): “We are extremely worried about those that are cut off from aid and have not been accounted for so far. What is important, and we've made this call in other contexts, we make it here again: we need to see an end of hostilities. Hostilities must cease and humanitarian access must be provided so that we can be there and help the people who have urgent needs.”
12. Medium-wide shot, podium speakers with TV screen to rear.
13. Close-up, participant’s frame in foreground, blurred, podium speaker to rear, in focus.
14. Close-up shot, podium speakers.