Moyale, Kenya — The Kenya Red Cross is mobilising emergency supplies for Ethiopian families who have crossed into Kenya after fighting broke out in the Ethiopian border town of Moyale on Wednesday, with the initial response expected to support 1,000 households.

Hundreds of people, mainly women, children and young people, have fled across the border in search of safety, according to the Kenya Red Cross and local government officials. Many arrived with few belongings and urgently need shelter, food, clean water and healthcare.

In a statement issued late on Thursday, the humanitarian organisation said it was preparing to distribute essential relief items to displaced families. The supplies include sleeping mats, jerrycans, kitchen sets and fortified porridge flour to help meet immediate household and nutritional needs.

The influx has also raised concerns about the safety of residents on the Kenyan side of the border. A police report seen by Reuters said a stray bullet struck a local woman in Moyale, Kenya, lodging in her neck. She was taken to a private hospital, where the bullet was removed. The woman was reported to be in a stable condition.

Local government officials in Kenya were expected to meet later on Friday to coordinate assistance for displaced households and organise the humanitarian response.

The latest arrivals highlight the immediate challenges facing border communities as people flee violence in neighbouring Ethiopia. Aid agencies and local authorities will need to assess the needs of displaced families and coordinate support as the situation develops.

The Kenya Red Cross has indicated that its initial response will target 1,000 households, although further assistance may be required depending on the scale and duration of the displacement.

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