Moyale refugee crisis escalates as humanitarian agencies step up identification efforts

The escalating conflict in neighbouring Ethiopia is pushing more people across the border into Kenya, with Moyale bearing the brunt of the growing displacement.

To coordinate support for those fleeing the violence, the Kenya Red Cross Society, in partnership with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), has launched an identification exercise targeting displaced families in Harhosa and OMC camps.

The exercise is expected to establish a clear record of those in need and guide the delivery of humanitarian assistance.

At first glance, at the camps, they are nothing more than simple blue wristbands. But for hundreds fleeing the conflict in Ethiopia, they carry a far greater meaning, the first step towards recognition, registration and access to protection in a foreign country.
 
At both camps, UNHCR and Kenya Red Cross teams are issuing the wristbands, each bearing a unique identification code, to help document the growing number of displaced people seeking refuge in Kenya.

“The blue wristbands will help us identify them,” said Enock Achola from UNHCR.

The unique codes will help humanitarian agencies establish the identity of individuals, organise the displaced population and strengthen coordination in the delivery of assistance.

For the Kenya Red Cross, the exercise is also about ensuring that the identification process reaches those who need support, with staff and volunteers working alongside UNHCR teams on the ground.

But humanitarian agencies say the wristbands are just the first step in a wider registration process.

The next phase will involve issuing household aid cards, capturing family details to help identify those in need and ensure humanitarian assistance reaches the right households.

“The digital identification codes will help streamline the issuance of household assistance,” said Kelvin Njenga, a Digital Transformation Officer at Kenya Red Cross.

As fighting continues across the border, humanitarian agencies say their immediate priority is to ensure every displaced person is identified and accounted for as they organise support for the growing refugee population in Moyale.

For families fleeing the conflict, the exercise marks an important step towards official recognition and inclusion in humanitarian assistance programmes.

Community representatives are also playing a key role, helping agencies reach new arrivals, facilitate communication and ease their integration into host communities.

 The UNHCR reports that more than 50,000 people have crossed the border since fighting erupted around October 21–22, 2026.