By Baraka John
Ezo County is facing a growing humanitarian crisis as thousands of internally displaced persons (IDPs) continue to pour in daily from Tombura County, fleeing a surge in inter-communal violence. Local authorities have registered over 2,000 households representing an estimated 6,000 to 7,000 individuals with numbers expected to climb in the coming days.
Speaking to King News on Sunday, December 8, 2024, Ezo County Commissioner Abel Sudan described the escalating situation, highlighting the urgent need for assistance as displaced families seek refuge.
“We are receiving a huge number of IDPs who have been displaced again for the second time, who are leaving Tombura to come to Ezo and currently, as we are talking with you, we have registered more than 2,000 households now, which is almost 6,000 t0 7,000 individuals who have come now to Ezo and they are coming day and night”. Sudan stated
The newly displaced individuals are primarily those who had previously fled the violence in Tombura in 2021 and had taken refuge in Ezo. After a period of relative peace, many of them returned to their homes, only to find themselves displaced once again due to the resurgence of conflict. “These people had hoped to return to their homes, but now they find themselves back in Ezo due to the renewed violence,” Commissioner Sudan added.
IDP fleeing Tombura County after a fresh wave of inter-communal violence (King News)
Currently, many of the displaced are sheltering in schools, church compounds, and open spaces. Some have even returned to the IDP camps that were set up during the previous displacement. The ongoing crisis has put a significant strain on Ezo County’s resources, and authorities are urgently calling for assistance.
Commissioner Sudan has made an appeal to the local community in Ezo, urging them to contribute food and other necessities to help those fleeing the conflict. “We are calling on the Ezo community to help with food items and other essentials as these people are in dire need,” he said.
In addition, the commissioner has reached out to international humanitarian organizations, such as the Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) and the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), which provided vital support during the 2021 displacement. He has urged these groups to assess the current situation in Tombura and extend their assistance to the newly displaced population.
IDP fleeing Tombura County after a fresh wave of inter-communal violence now in Ezo County (Photo: King News)
The current crisis follows a period of intense violence in Tombura County, where, between June and September 2021, over 440 people were killed, 18 injured, and 74 civilians were abducted. The violence also led to widespread sexual violence and displacement, with Ezo County receiving one of the highest numbers of IDPs during that period, nearly 100,000 people.
As the humanitarian situation in Ezo County continues to worsen, the need for urgent aid and support remains critical for the thousands of individuals who have once again been forced to flee their homes.