The first pilot biometric food distribution system was successfully completed within 8.5 days in Jewi Refugee Camp. From the total targeted population of 48,639 persons, 37,403 persons were able to collect food ration using the Biometrics system showing a 23% no show rate. Additional tests will be undertaken in the coming two months to draw a clear trend within which the construction of the two biometrics food centres in Jewi camp would have been completed.

A cross-border raid in Gambella region on Friday, 15 April by armed men said to be from the Murle ethnic group in South Sudan left over 200 people dead, 108 children reportedly kidnapped and dozens of people wounded. The Ethiopian government Disaster Prevention and Food Security Agency (DPFSA) said no South Sudanese refugee was affected by the raid, which was unprecedented as it was well-coordinated and happened at various locations at the same time. Over 21,000 people were reportedly displaced by the raid.

The Ethiopia refugee agency and UNHCR are registering over 400 new South Sudanese refugee arrivals at Okugo Refugee Camp in Gambella region. The new arrivals entered Ethiopia through Raad entry point following intra-ethnic conflict in Pochalla, South Sudan. New arrivals continue. The intra-ethnic fighting reportedly broke out on 21 March in Pochalla town between Pochalla North and Pochalla South Anuak community and the fighting spread to nearby towns.

UNHCR Gambella took part in inter-agency assessment mission to areas affected by the cross-border raid of 15 April by gunmen which left over 200 people killed and over 21,000 displaced. The mission visited Lare Woreda on 21 April.

Following the road accident in Jewi camp and the violent incidents, UNHCR and other humanitarian workers were forced to withdraw from Jewi, Kule and Tierkidi refugee camps while contact with refugees was done through remote monitoring. Area Security Management Team (ASMT) meetings were held to discuss the insecurity during which appropriate measures were taken including restrictions on movement of UN and other humanitarian agencies.

UNHCR and other humanitarian workers, vehicles, and offices in Gambella were targeted for attacks on Saturday, 23 April following a road accident in Jewi refugee camp on 21 April which claimed lives of two refugee children. The accident, involving a hired bus of a private contractor and which was driven by an Ethiopian national, subsequently sparked off reprisal killings in the camp leading to loss of 10 lives. The violence spilled over to Gambella town where some people were also killed. An angry mob targeted UN and other humanitarian agencies in Gambella town and also attempted to attack Jewi refugee camp but was prevented from doing so by the Ethiopian Defence Force. The violent security incidents affected service delivery in the camps.

From interviews conducted by UNHCR on 27 April, refugees in Jewi camp expressed deep regret over the violence in their camp on 21 April and assured that it will never happen again. The camp leadership noted that no road accident had occurred in the camp before since it was established about a year ago and blamed the recent violence in the camp as the work of “criminals in their midst”.

The main decisions taken by the task force in relation to the incidents in Jewi refugee camp included: the Protection Working Group to develop a communication and awareness raising strategy and action plan targeting refugees in all camps, as well as host community; and sensitization campaign in refugee camps to be launched on 2 May. The Protection Working Group drafted a communication strategy for refugees and host communities in Gambella for raising awareness on the Rule of Law and Peaceful co-existence.

At an ad hoc inter-agency task force meeting held on 27 April and which was co-chaired by UNHCR and ARRA, ARRA assured all humanitarian actors of security as the government has reinforced the presence of Ethiopian Defence Force and Federal Police who are currently controlling the situation in Gambella region.

In late April, in Kule camp, refugees celebrated the return of Dr. Riek Machar to South Sudanese capital Juba and his reinstatement as first Vice president of the Republic of South Sudan. Refugees including men, women and children celebrated by singing, cheering and expressing the hope that lasting peace will be restored in their country.