A number of refugees from Blue Nile state in Churkoli, an Ethiopian refugee camp, have complained of harassment by local authorities and a lack of food in the camp.  The conditions apparently come amidst calls by various UN organizations for them to be transferred to an alternative camp.

They claimed that local authorities do not allow them to visit places outside of their camps, even as they need to leave to search for firewood or access local materials for the construction of shelter.  As a result the Sudanese refugees claim to be regularly subjected to threats and intimidation by the authorities.

“The refugees’ humanitarian situations in Kuburi Khamsa are different from the rest of the camps. The refugees here are not happy with situations, if possible we are supposed to be transferred to another camp. In some camps the UN is providing all services but we don’t have them here,” explained one of the refugees.

Revealing that some of the refugees have been held in prisons and detention centres, the sources added that there are often delays in distributing food and that the share per capita is too low, at 1kg of dura (sorghum) each month.

Health services in the camp are also reported to be deteriorating due to shortages of medical staff and drugs.  Meanwhile, disease in the camp is becoming more prevalent, prompting the refugees to request their urgent transfer to another camp.

Refugees from Blue Nile state began fleeing to Ethiopia as clashes broke out between the Sudanese government and rebel group, SPLA-North last year.  Many thousands have since become displaced, either internally within Sudan or having fled to camps in Ethiopia and South Sudan.