Violence displaces more than 101,000 Ethiopians

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) on Monday said more than 101,000 people have been displaced by violence in western Ethiopia.

 “Between the end of July 2020 and January 4, 2021, more than 101,000 people were displaced by violence in Ethiopia’s western Benishangul-Gumuz regional state,” the UNOCHA said in a report.

“The Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) are sheltered in public spaces, including schools, meeting halls, while others have set up temporary make-shift shelters, some are staying with relatives and others are out in the open,” the UNOCHA report further disclosed.

The UNOCHA report warned continuing insecurity in several parts of Benishangul-Gumuz regional state is expected to create an additional number of IDPs.

Ethnic violence between members of various ethnic groups in Benishangul-Gumuz regional state in recent months has left hundreds dead and thousands of others displaced.

The clashes are mainly over access to power and land resources.

Olajumoke Adeleke