Stray gunfire and explosions from armed clashes in southern Ethiopia crossed the international border on Tuesday. Two Kenyan civilians died and thousands fled their homes. Local authorities in Marsabit County confirmed that residential neighborhoods near the frontier bore the brunt of the violence.
Marsabit County Governor Mohamud Ali detailed the heavy humanitarian toll of the conflict. A government assessment showed that about 10,000 residents were displaced within the county after gunfire and explosives threatened civilian areas.
The violence hit the border town of Moyale, about 750 kilometres north of Nairobi. Ali warned that unexploded ordnance near homes and public facilities poses severe dangers to residents, especially children.
More than 50,000 Ethiopian nationals crossed into Marsabit County to escape hostilities in the Oromo and Somali regions of southern Ethiopia. Ali stated that the crisis began on October 18 after a dispute over a regional flag and the killing of a 13-year-old girl. The unrest spread across several districts along the contested Oromia-Somali boundary.
The cross-border fighting halted daily life in northern Kenya. Schools, national exams, electricity supplies, and cross-border trade stopped. Thousands of displaced families are sheltering in temporary facilities and private homes.
Public health conditions in the makeshift shelters are worsening. Ali reported confirmed cases of measles and rubella alongside shortages of essential medicines. Local authorities fear further disease outbreaks without urgent medical assistance, vaccinations, and better sanitation.
Regional officials are working with national agencies and humanitarian groups to deliver emergency food, clean water, healthcare, and shelter. Ali said current resources cannot manage the escalating emergency and appealed for international support.
Ali urged community leaders to prevent retaliation and stop the regional violence from fueling ethnic tensions along the frontier.
