IOM has provided 2,500 plastic sheets to provide emergency shelter
for about 12,000 people displaced by cattle raiders from the Murle
tribe in South Sudan in early March.

Eight villages in the district of Lare in Ethiopia's Gambella
State, which borders with south east Sudan, were affected when
raiders attacked in the middle of the night. Seven villagers were
killed and 13 injured including women and children, according to
local authorities. The raiders are also said to have taken more
than 3,300 cattle in addition to destroying the sorghum and maize
crops being cultivated by the villagers.

The displaced, most of whom left with no belongings or food, are
currently scattered at a difficult-to-access, marshy location known
as Hyena Forest and are in desperate need of food, shelter, water
and medical assistance. When they can find it, many of the
displaced are eating a wild plant called toho while the only water
available is from a dirty pond.

Some of the displaced are reported to have crossed the border
into Southern Sudan to find food and water.

"IOM has been able to provide the plastic sheeting from
available stocks at the request of the president of Gambella state.
But the displaced need much more, including clean water, mosquito
nets and bedding," said IOM's chief of mission in Ethiopia, Charles
Kwenin.

Those affected by the cattle raid are dependent on livestock and
agricultural production on small plots of dried flood land. The
main income for households comes from milk with each family keeping
several cows for its own consumption. The area is known for its
livestock production and with little border protection, it is
vulnerable to attacks from raiders from South Sudan.

Elsewhere in Gambella state, IOM, local partners and authorities
are today distributing seeds and non-food items to people affected
by floods last September, but who have until recently not been
accessible.

A total of about 30,000 people in eight districts in Gambella
were affected by the floods which also hit seven other regions of
Ethiopia last year. Thousands of people have remained stranded in
submerged villages or are living in temporary shelters. Continued
heavy rains have made it impossible to reach the victims until now
to assess the extent of damage and needs.

The distribution today is targeted at 13,000 people and in
addition to providing essential household and hygiene items, will
comprise sorghum and maize seeds for immediate planting.

For any further information, please contact:

Charles Kwenin

Tel: +251-115504028 

E-mail: "mailto:ckwenin@iom.int">ckwenin@iom.int

Lily Sanya

Tel: +251911210561

E-mail: "mailto:Lilysanya@yahoo.co.uk">Lilysanya@yahoo.co.uk