Families fleeing tensions in Ethiopia are seeking assistance in Moyale.
Kenyan police have stepped up border surveillance as Kenya Red Cross provides shelter and essential supplies to families fleeing tensions in Ethiopia.
Hundreds of Ethiopians have crossed into Kenya in a Moyale border influx following tensions between Ethiopia’s Oromia and Somali regional leaderships. Police said the arrivals were mainly women, children and young people.
A Moyale Police Station security brief said the crossings began on the night of October 21. People entered through several locations, including Sessi, Kore, Biashara, Foundation and Miti.
Police estimated the arrivals had reached hundreds, but they had not established an exact number. Meanwhile, the brief reported gunfire on the Ethiopian side from about 5:50am on October 22. The shooting continued at the time of the briefing.
Security teams monitor Moyale border influx
Despite the reported gunfire across the frontier, police described the Kenyan side of Moyale as relatively peaceful. Security officers remained on high alert to monitor developments and prevent tensions from spreading.
Authorities also activated the Moyale Sub-County Security Team and the Moyale Cross-Border Peace Committee. The two bodies will help ease tensions and support peaceful relations among communities along the border.
Red Cross targets 1,000 households
Meanwhile, the Kenya Red Cross Society has begun assisting families arriving with few belongings and urgent needs. In an October 22 statement, the agency said its initial response would target 1,000 households.
That figure describes the planned reach of the relief operation, not a confirmed count of arrivals. The total number of people who have crossed into Kenya remains unclear.
Red Cross teams are working with the Marsabit County Government, national authorities and humanitarian partners. Together, they have begun setting up temporary shelters and distributing essential household supplies.
The assistance includes tents, blankets, sleeping mats, jerrycans and kitchen sets. In addition, teams are providing Super Cereal, a fortified porridge flour, for young children, pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers. They are also offering first aid to people needing immediate medical attention.
Assessment identifies urgent needs
Kenya Red Cross Secretary General Dr Ahmed Idris said the priority was safety, shelter and dignified assistance. He added that staff and volunteers would adapt their response as needs changed.
The agency is also conducting a rapid assessment to determine the scale of support required. Preliminary findings identify urgent needs for food, safe water, sanitation, hygiene, primary healthcare and protection.
Its response gives particular attention to women, children, older people and people living with disabilities. Alongside relief supplies, teams are helping relatives separated during displacement reconnect.
