Officials in Sudan have confirmed that no fewer than 6,000 Ethiopians have fled from Ethiopia into Sudan due to fighting in Tigray province across the border.
The Sudanese authorities are also preparing for the influx of another 200,000 refugees in the coming days.
Aid groups have warned of a looming humanitarian crisis while authorities are setting up refugee camps to handle the influx of people.
A military offensive – mounted in Tigray against local leaders who challenged the central government’s authority – have killed hundreds.
According to Ethiopia’s state broadcaster, the country’s military had killed 550 Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) fighters as the conflict in the country’s northernmost state continues to deepen.
The head of the TPLF, Debretsion Gebremichael, on Tuesday accused neighbouring Eritrean government and Ethiopian national army of launching attacks on the Tigrayan state, an accusation which was denied by both bodies.
A spokesperson for the federal government’s emergency committee, Redwan Hussein, said there was still a possibility of dialogue between the government and Tigray’s authorities.
He however noted that “armaments purportedly seized by forces loyal to the TPLF must be destroyed, individuals in the custody of Tigrayan forces rescued and those who launched attacks face justice”.
Meanwhile, Ethiopia’s federal police say 17 military personnel – including senior officials – accused of being part of a plot when the northern military command was allegedly attacked last week have been arrested.
It is unclear if the suspects have responded to the accusations.
