Hundreds of Ethiopians Flee Into Kenya as Fighting Hits Moyale

Hundreds of Ethiopians have crossed into Kenya to escape fighting in the border town of Moyale, Kenyan police said on Thursday.

Police said most of those crossing were women and children. They entered through five points along the border: Sessi, Kore, Biashara, Foundation and Miti.

Police attributed the displacement to tensions between leaders of Ethiopia's Oromia and Somali regional states. They also reported gunfire and chaotic scenes in Moyale.

Ethiopian media reported that the fighting began on Sunday as a dispute over raising the flag of the Somali Regional State. Tensions then escalated into fighting between forces from the Oromia and Somali regions.

Eastleigh Voice reported that the clashes were deadly, that homes were burned and that transport services were halted in Moyale.

Aid work has started on the Kenyan side. Kenya Red Cross said it was setting up temporary shelter and handing out cereal and porridge flour to those displaced. On Thursday, it said its initial response would reach 1,000 households.