In the midst of the ongoing conflict in neighboring Sudan, the Ethiopian government "has done its part" by opening its doors to Sudanese and foreign refugees escaping the conflict, Uriat Cham Ugala, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia to Russia, told Sputnik Africa.
According to the diplomat, due to the geographical proximity of the two nations, many Sudanese and non-Sudanese individuals have sought safety in Ethiopia.
Recognizing the gravity of the situation and the fact that the Sudanese conflict has affected many neighboring countries, Ambassador Cham Ugala emphasized Ethiopia's commitment to provide aid and support to these displaced persons.
"The Ethiopian government has done its part to receive all the refugees and migrants in Ethiopia," Ambassador Cham Ugala said. "We want to say that the world [...] has to see this as a challenge for the Ethiopian government and do the necessary support for these migrants and refugees."
Ambassador Cham Ugala called on the United Nations and its related agencies to recognize the dire situation and provide the necessary assistance to help Ethiopia cope with the mounting number of refugees and migrants entering its borders.
He appealed to the global community to recognize the burden on the Ethiopian government and work together to address the urgent needs of these vulnerable people.
On April 15, violent clashes broke out between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, with the epicenter in Khartoum. Government forces accused the RSF of mutiny and launched airstrikes against their bases.
Abdel Fattah Al Burhan, head of the Sudanese Sovereignty Council and commander of the armed forces, issued a decree disbanding the RSF. Since then, the parties have entered into a series of temporary nationwide ceasefires, but the conflict has not been resolved.
According to UN estimates, nearly a thousand people have been killed and more than 4,700 others injured during the conflict, while more than 2.1 million people have been forced to flee their homes.