Garowe(Mogadishu24)-Puntland’s State Minister for Interior, Abdi Farah Said Juha, reported Sunday that approximately 30,000 Ethiopian refugees have entered Somalia over the past ten months, further straining the region’s capacity to manage increasing humanitarian challenges.

Speaking before Puntland’s House of Representatives, the Minister highlighted the growing crisis caused by the influx of Ethiopian migrants alongside the existing 450,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the state.

Juha expressed concern over Puntland’s limited resources to accommodate the rising number of refugees and revealed that discussions with Ethiopian authorities are ongoing to control the refugee flow and facilitate voluntary returns.

“The situation has become more challenging, and urgent intervention from international agencies is required to address the humanitarian needs of both migrants and IDPs,” Juha said.

The port city of Bosaso has become a key transit point for migrants, many of whom risk perilous journeys to Gulf states such as Saudi Arabia and Yemen.

Recent incidents underscore the dangers: two overcrowded boats carrying 320 migrants capsized near Djibouti, leaving at least 48 Ethiopians dead and dozens missing.

The influx of Ethiopian refugees is attributed to the ongoing conflict and economic hardships in Ethiopia.

Puntland’s administration has called for immediate international support to manage the escalating crisis and address the needs of displaced populations while urging regional cooperation to combat human trafficking networks.