The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) in Kenya said nearly 36,000 people have crossed from Ethiopia into Kenya, fleeing conflict in and around Moyale, a border town in Ethiopia.
The conflict began last week between Oromo and Somali communities in the Moyale town and surrounding areas, leaving several people dead and wounded.
The fighting broke out after the Somali communities had raised their regional flag in the town, Borana Zone, Oromia Region, followed by the killing of a 13-year-old girl on October 18.
In a statement issued on Monday, UNHCR said forces from the Somali and Oromia regions in Southern Ethiopia have been fighting for over two decades over boundary demarcations and resources, with recent escalations since last week sparking a new wave of displacement.
The UN refugee agency identified food, clean water, shelter, sanitation, and healthcare identified as the most urgent needs for the displaced people.
Amongst those who fled, nearly 11,000 have sought sanctuary within the large compound of the Oriental Mission Church (OMC), a prominent Korean-American Christian organisation based in Los Angeles, which does missionary and humanitarian work in Kenya, said IOM.
The remaining 25,600 people are being hosted by communities along the border.
The agency said many of those arriving were women and children, with some staying with relatives and host communities while others sought shelter in temporary locations. UNHCR, the International Organization for Migration, UNICEF, the World Food Program, and the Kenya Red Cross Society are working with Kenyan authorities and humanitarian partners to coordinate assistance.
MG/as/APA