Sudanese refugees abandon UN camp in protest
Fleeing the violence in Sudan, refugees are being harassed by Fano militia.
A month-long protest by Sudanese refugees in Ethiopia’s Amhara region escalated this week to include a hunger strike by some. The protesters want to be moved out of Ethiopia – where they have reportedly been attacked by Fano militias – or be allowed to return to Sudan, despite the war. The Ethiopian government has barred their mass return.
According to the United Nations Refugee Agency, 1,000 refugees walked out of its Awlala refugee site on 1 May, complaining of insecurity and insufficient services, and have since been living along a road nearby.
In the camp, the refugees had been subjected to shakedowns by local militia who are fighting the Ethiopia government.
The militiamen, known as Fano, stole phones and other property from the refugees, according to Ayin Network. This left them unable to receive remittances from family and friends, a vital economic lifeline for the refugee community. The UN agency – which says that formal relief efforts have only received 11% of necessary funding – is struggling to supply basic services to the camp.
According to Sudanese mutual aid coordinators, this week’s hunger strike is not just a protest. The homeless refugees last received food rations while at the Awlala camp and are reportedly running out of food. They have decided to leave what’s left for the children, pregnant women and elderly among them. Some, however, told Ayin they would continue the strike even if they receive new rations – unless they are redirected to another country or allowed to return to Sudan.
The UN Refugees Agency says it is talking to the affected refugees, in the hope that they will return to Awlala camp.