Flash Update #6: The Impact of the Situation in Sudan on Ethiopia (As of 11 May 2023)

Highlights

• People arriving from Sudan to Ethiopia via Metema border town have now reached more than 18,000 since 21 April.

• Over 440 people to date have crossed to Ethiopia via the Kurmuk border crossing point in Benishangul Gumuz Region.

• For the first time, new arrivals reported at the Pagak/Bubieyr border crossing in the Gambella Region. About 200 South Sudanese refugees, who had previously been hosted in Sudan, crossed into Ethiopia.

• Incident Command Post to meet at Gendawhu, West Gondar Zone, on 12 May; response coordination at heart of agenda to scale up response.

Situation Overview

Close to 630 people, of which 64 per cent Ethiopian returnees and the remaining of foreign nationalities, arrived at the Metema border crossing point, West Gondar Zone in Amhara Region on 10 May tallying the total number of all crossings to 18,0622 , since 21 April. In addition, more than 440 people have crossed into the country via the Kurmuk border point in Ethiopia’s Benishangul Gumuz Region. For the first time, new arrivals were also reported at the Pagak/Bubieyr border crossing in the Gambella Region, with 198 South Sudanese refugees, who had previously been hosted in Sudan, having crossed into Ethiopia3.

Currently the Metema border crossing point benefits from the work of three committees under the zonal Incident Command Post (ICP) with the roles of ensuring safety of arrivals, providing timely logistical services, and in the provision of data collection and information dissemination.