APA-Addis Ababa (Ethiopia) The number of people entering Ethiopia from conflict-hit Sudan has surpassed 68,000, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) said on Monday.
The UNOCHA, in its latest situation update, said the population movement to Ethiopia since the onset of the crisis in Sudan in mid-April this year had reached 68,601 as of July 20.
Among the total arrivals, the number of Ethiopian returnees account for about 49 percent while Sudanese nationals make up 30 percent, according to UNOCHA figures.
Crossings through various points of entry continue, but the total number of arrivals has shown a decrease in the past week, the UNOCHA said.
Sudan has witnessed deadly armed clashes between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces in the capital city of Khartoum and other areas since April 15, with the two sides accusing each other of initiating the conflict.
The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) has recently expressed concern over gaps in addressing the flow of people from Sudan into Ethiopia, citing challenges to onward transportation, inadequate access to life-saving services including food, non-food items, water, sanitation and hygiene as well as healthcare services.
Heavy rains have made the conditions and terrains very difficult for aid workers to provide timely support, the IOM said.
MG/as/APA