Reports from Ethiopia highlight the tragic situation facing Sudanese refugees. A large number of Sudanese families have been displaced by the catastrophic war and have sought refuge in Ethiopia. Hundreds have fled to escape violence, including murder, detention, torture, and looting.
Most of the displaced have been placed in camps that lack the basic necessities for a dignified life.
The Sudanese refugees in the Olala camp are living under harsh, inhumane conditions. The Olala camp is not under the direct supervision of humanitarian organizations or the Ethiopian government. Residents are subject to attacks by armed “Shiftas,” and the camp often floods after rainfall.
Given these tragic circumstances, the residents of the Olala camp have started a hunger strike, excluding pregnant women, nursing mothers, and the elderly. The strike began today, Thursday, May 23.
We make this humanitarian appeal to the United Nations, its agencies assisting displaced persons and refugees, and all human rights organizations for immediate intervention. We urge them to provide the necessary assistance to avert an imminent humanitarian catastrophe faced by our citizens in the Olala camp.
We also call on the Ethiopian government to provide material and moral support and to resolve the living and security problems faced by our citizens in the Olala camp. This appeal is made in accordance with the principles of neighborliness, the relationship between our peoples, and the dictates of international humanitarian law.
Thank you,
The Forces for Radical Change in Sudan
May 23, 2024
Photo: At the reception centre in Pamdong, Gambella region on South Sudan’s eastern border, refugees receive basic assistance, such as shelter and water, provided by international NGOs with EU humanitarian funds. They are registered by UNHCR and government officials, before they move on to refugee camps. Creative Commons/2017 European Union (photo by Lars Oberhaus)
Creative Commons
