A Sudanese refugee woman weeps in the aftermath of violent clashes between Ethiopian forces and rebels near a camp in Kumer, Amhara region, on July 17, 2024

July 17, 2024 (ADDIS ABABA) -Violence erupted in the Kumer region of northeastern Ethiopia, leaving several Sudanese refugees, including a child, injured. The armed clashes between Ethiopian Federal Police and an unidentified armed group have further destabilized the area, which is home to thousands of Sudanese refugees seeking safety. Approximately 6,000 Sudanese refugees residing in Ethiopia’s Awlala forest are enduring dire conditions. Among them are 2,300 women and children. Tragically, 45 children have died in recent months, according to a report by the Sudanese Refugee Committee in the Amhara region. Sudanese refugees told “Sudan Tribune” on Wednesday that an armed group attacked Ethiopian Federal Police forces in the Kumer area of the Amhara region at dawn, resulting in the deaths of nine police officers. The refugees confirmed that a three-year-old child and several others were injured during the attack. In response to the violence, Ethiopian authorities withdrew federal police who had been detaining refugees in the Awlala forest, according to a statement from the Sudanese Refugee Coordination Committee in the Amhara region. The committee described the situation as dangerous and deteriorating, citing continued attacks, killings, kidnappings, and the increased presence of armed groups in the region, particularly in the Kumer …

The post Sudanese refugees caught in crossfire as violence escalates in Ethiopia appeared first on Sudan Tribune.