The Sudanese Murle
has subjected the Nuer and Anuak people of Gambella Regional State
in Ethiopia to repeated cross-border attacks since the beginning of
the year.
Historically,
people have coped with these cross-border attacks, but the latest
attack on the Anuak people were extremely severe, with many casualties
recorded.
The president
of East Gambella Bethel Synod of the Ethiopian Evangelical Church
Mekane Yesus, Ojod Miru, said that some 1,000 armed Murle attackers
crossed the border with Sudan on April 11 this year, attacking the
Angela Peasant Association, an Anuak village in Jor Wereda (district)
of the Gambella Regional State.
The attacks claimed
the lives of 26 people, as well as resulted in loss of livestock and
the destruction of property. In total, 200 houses were burnt down,
and large herds of cattle belonging to the Anuak raided.
The situation
has returned to normal after the police force and local militia intervened,
but all social and economic activities have stopped, disrupting day
to day life of people in the area significantly.
Some 5,000 people
are reported displaced—most of whom have sought shelter under trees,
in individual homes and on the premises of institutions in Shantwa,
a small town in the Jor Wereda (district).
The affected communities
have not yet received any food assistance from the government and/or
humanitarian agencies and are in serious need of assistance. Concern
has been expressed that the situation may deteriorate if people are
left in overcrowded shelters, especially with the imminent onset of
the short rainy season.
The Joint Government-Humanitarian
verification team deployed to assess the situation is expected to
return at the end of this week. The ACT Ethiopia Forum made up of
members: Christian Aid, DanChurch Aid, Ethiopian Orthodox Church,
Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus, Lutheran World Federation,
Norwegian Church Aid and the Swiss Interchurch Aid (HEKS) are
in touch with the ACT CO and will be looking at how best to respond
to the humanitarian needs once more information is made available
from the field.
