Scores dead in tribal clashes

Violent tribal clashes in the south of Ethiopia in recent months have left at least 60 people dead and almost 200 wounded, according to reliable reports received by the UN. Hundreds of families have fled their homes after skirmishes between the Borana and Garre tribes, who have a long history of fighting over land use, a UN source told IRIN.

Water points and grazing rights have often acted as a catalyst and severe shortages of both in the region have served to fuel the violence. The latest clashes erupted after the Borana, who are
semi-nomadic pastoralists, accused the ethnic Somali Garre of encroaching on their land. The UN source said the fighting had been extremely fierce with some casualties being ferried over the border to Kenya and others being transported to Agere Maryam hospital for treatment.

The latest clashes - in the Wachile and Hisfutu areas of Oromia - have been on going for two months and in that time there have been at least ten significant incidents leading many families to flee for safety, some as far as 150 kilometres away. Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) Holland, who are carrying out a measles vaccination programme in the area, discovered that some of the target groups could not be located.

The regional government, who are based in Jijiga, sent in a mission to help secure peace in the region - and try and calm tensions in the area. Although they were partly successful and tribal chiefs called a ceasefire word has still not got round to all the warring factions. Having undertaken a recent field investigation of the trouble, the UN source told IRIN that a "fragile peace" operated in the area.

The Borana and the Garre have a long history of violence and revenge attacks. Last September, it was reported 66 Garre men and women were killed during one attack. For the time being the UN have restricted travel by staff between Negele and Wachile. Dewa, Udet and Wachile are also off-limits. Travel by road to the regional capital of Moyale is only authorised via Yabelo and Mega.