Thousands of Refugees in Ethiopia intend to return to Sudan on Foot
Sudan Events – Agencies
About 3,000 Sudanese refugees in the Ethiopian “Ola” forest in Amhara region are arranging to return to Sudan on foot after the expansion of attacks carried out against them by armed Ethiopian militias.
More than 6,000 Sudanese refugees, including about 2,300 women and children, are facing a harsh tragedy inside the forests, and are facing great dangers, most notably attacks by Ethiopian militants, and rainfall inside the forest without any protection.
One of the IDPs called “A”, told “Sudan Tribune”, requesting anonymity for security reasons, that the displaced persons decided to return on a journey that may take three days on foot, during which they will cover a distance of more than 90 kilometers.
The spokesperson attributed the decision to return to the deteriorating conditions inside the forest where the refugees reside, the increasing attacks by Ethiopian militias on them, in addition to the failure of the Refugee Commission to provide a solution for them.
He appealed to Sudanese abroad to provide financial support to the refugees to provide a means of transportation to transport women, the elderly, children and those recently injured in the attacks launched against them by Ethiopian militias.
He affirmed that about 1,500 people cannot travel this distance and may need assistance, stressing that the refugees made their decision after the Commission hesitated to resolve their case.
He believed that the Commission was unable to make any decision, criticizing its role in standing with the refugees.
He revealed difficulties in communicating with it.
“A” revealed a dilemma facing the return trip represented by the closure of “Qandar” road for more than a week for security reasons, but he stressed that the refugees will face anything in order to leave Ethiopian territory.
He added: “Death in our homeland is better for us.. We have become desperate and the militias have started invading the forests and attacking us constantly, and in order not to lose more lives, we decided to return.”
At the same time, he affirmed that the food and medicine currently available are running out after the siege and attacks carried out by the militias, affirming that there is no party supporting the refugees.
