Ethiopian authorities have deployed troops to Gambella region amid escalating ethnic violence and a worsening humanitarian crisis, prompting the World Food Programme to halt food distributions affecting over 400,000 refugees, including new arrivals from Sudan and South Sudan. The conflict, which began after the killing of a local police chief, has led to rising casualties, curfews, and the suspension of aid operations in a region already hosting displaced populations.
The violence erupted last month following the assassination of Gambella’s police chief, Umod Ujulu, a member of the Nuer ethnic group, allegedly by a deputy from the Anuak community. Clashes between the two groups have since intensified, with residents reporting widespread attacks and difficulties in containing the unrest. Regional President Alemitu Omod confirmed ongoing conflict in Gambella city, describing a tense environment with deserted streets and curfews imposed to allow families to retrieve victims.
The World Food Programme, a key provider of assistance in the area, suspended food deliveries this week, citing “escalating tensions.” Over 400,000 refugees, including new arrivals from Sudan and South Sudan, now face disrupted access to essential supplies. Other humanitarian organizations have also scaled back operations amid the insecurity, exacerbating existing challenges in a region where aid has been diminishing since 2023 due to reduced international funding, particularly from major donors such as USAID. A 2023 report by Doctors Without Borders highlighted that such funding cuts had already strained food distribution, healthcare, and water access in the area.
Local residents and analysts attribute the crisis to a combination of economic decline, high unemployment, and longstanding ethnic tensions over land and political representation. “People are hungry and blaming others, turning to violence as a means of survival,” said Nyateny Nul, a Gambella resident. The region’s history of ethnic conflict between Nuer and Anuak groups has repeatedly spilled into refugee camps, which are struggling under decreased humanitarian support.
James Akob, a South Sudanese refugee in Pugindo camp, described the situation as “a bloodbath,” noting attacks within the camp based on ethnicity. He alleged that elements linked to the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-In Opposition (SPLM-IO) had contributed to the unrest, though this claim could not be independently verified.
The crisis underscores the intersection of humanitarian neglect and ethnic strife in Gambella, with international donors’ reduced funding compounding local grievances. As violence persists, concerns grow over the safety of civilians and the sustainability of aid efforts in a region increasingly vulnerable to conflict.