UN Sends Aid Into Sudan For Ethiopian Refugees

The UN said it flew 32 tons of emergency aid into Khartoum on Friday to help the growing number of refugees fleeing into Sudan from Ethiopia.

UNHCR, a UN Refugee Agency, said a second airlift from Dubai was due to arrive on Monday, with more than 43,300 registered refugees now having crossed the border to escape the military assault on the Tigray.

Ethiopia’s Prime Minister, Abiy Ahmed ordered troops into Tigray on November 4 following alleged attacks by Tigray People’s Liberation Front forces on federal military camps in the northern region.

UNHCR Chief, Filippo Grandi visited the Sudanese capital Khartoum to review operations and went to the border river to meet refugees crossing on small boats from Ethiopia.

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“I want to express my solidarity and my thanks to Sudan for opening the borders to the refugees,” he said.

Grandi visited registration, medical and food distribution centres at the border.

In Geneva, UNHCR spokesman Babar Baloch told reporters: “Aid is being mobilised to help refugees, almost half of whom are children.

“Humanitarian agencies continue to provide shelter and other facilities to help refugees but more resources are required and Sudan needs international support urgently.”

He said the UNHCR had helped to relocate nearly 10,000 refugees to Um Raquba, some 70 kilometres (40 miles) further inside Sudanese territory.