Moyale:Deadly ethnic clashes in southern Ethiopia have forced more than 2,000 people to flee to neighboring Kenya. At least nine people have been reported dead as violence persists between ethnic communities, officials confirmed on Friday.

According to Anadolu Agency – English, the fighting involves ethnic Oromo and Somali communities in Ethiopia. The conflict emerged due to tensions over the display of the Somali Regional State flag in an area governed by Ethiopia's Oromia region. The violence resulted in significant casualties, with reports indicating at least nine deaths and dozens of injuries, although these figures have not been independently verified.

Stanley Kamande, commissioner for Kenya's Marsabit County, stated that thousands of Ethiopians crossed into the Kenyan town of Moyale following armed confrontations on the Ethiopian side of the border on Wednesday. A woman in Moyale was reportedly injured by a bullet fired from across the border and received medical treatment.

The Kenya Red Cross announced on Thursday that it was providing emergency aid to the displaced families, initially targeting 1,000 households. The organization is collaborating with government authorities to supply temporary shelter, food, clean water, and other essential provisions. Moyale serves as a major crossing point between Kenya and Ethiopia and is located 780 kilometers north of Nairobi and 775 kilometers south of Addis Ababa. The unrest has sparked concerns about further displacement and potential disruption to cross-border trade.