© UNHCR/P.Rulashe

The UN refugee agency is moving Sudanese refugees away from border areas amid fears that fighting inside Sudan could spill across the border into Ethiopia.

The refugees are being taken to the Adimazin transit centre, about 20 kilometres from the border, where they will stay for a maximum period of two months before being transferred to the newly opened Tongo Refugee Camp. The Ethiopian government allocated new sites at Tongo, Bambasi and Gure, each with a capacity to accommodate up to 10,000 refugees when completed.

Since the beginning of September, multiple clashes between the Sudanese army and rebels from Blue Nile state have prompted 50,000 civilians to flee their homes and more than 27,000 to cross into Ethiopia from Kurmuk, Geissan and other locations in Sudan.

The new camp in Tongo, in Ethiopia's Benishangul Gumuz state, is located more than 200 kilometres from Kurmuk – the busiest border crossing – and about 400 kms from Bamza. For security reasons, UNHCR and Ethiopia's Administration for Refugee and Returnee Affairs (ARRA) are keen to avoid the establishment of spontaneous settlement at the border locations.

Beyond the sheer logistics of establishing camps and transit centres and providing shelter and basic aid items, there are other major challenges. UNHCR would like to set up its camps at least 50 kilometres from the borders to ensure the safety of refugees amid continuing fighting across the border, including air attacks. However, many refugees have long been reluctant to move to safer areas because they wish to be closer to their homes when the fighting stops. UNHCR has stepped up efforts to persuade refugees to relocate away from the border areas, where many stay among the local community in the hope of returning to their homes soon.

To date, about 5,000 people have agreed to be registered as refugees by UNHCR at the Sherkole Refugee Camp, about 50 kilometres from the border. But the continuing insecurity, including frequent air strikes on the Sudan side of the border at Kurmuk, has prompted many to start considering relocation.

Before the current Sudanese emergency began, Sherkole was home to some 4,000 Sudanese refugees who elected to stay in Ethiopia after the end of Sudan's civil war in 2005 and South Sudan's declaration of independence this year. But with the latest influx, Sherkole earlier this week reached its 8,000-person capacity.

At the beginning of the influx, the new arrivals were mainly women, children and the elderly – generally in good health. Men were staying behind to look after properties. Recently, however, UNHCR staff at the border have seen larger numbers of men arriving, and more conflict injuries.

Refugees are also bringing their livestock and carrying belongings, such as grain mills or furniture, to help them make a living in Ethiopia. As development of the site continues, 80 of the 380 available family sized tents have been pitched. Up to 40,000 litres of water per day is ready for use while additional water sources are being sought.

UNHCR is also purchasing a month's supply of firewood to be distributed by ARRA for cooking and heating. Meanwhile immunization in Kurmuk for 438 children, including 28 Ethiopian locals, was completed at the end of last week. Immunization of children will continue at Tongo.