Approximately 8,000 Ethiopians crossed the border into Kenya on Wednesday after the Ethiopian army launched an attack in two villages near the Ethiopia-Kenya border.
The Kenya Red Cross Society of Kenya confirmed on Thursday that the refugees who mainly constitute women and children crossed the Moyale border point in Marsabit County exhausted and in dire need of food aid.
The humanitarian agency said on its official Facebook page there is a likelihood the number could increase due to the current insecurity in Ethiopian areas along the Kenya-Ethiopia border. The areas affected include Tuk's and El Leh.
Those on the run are being hosted in Moyale and Sololo towns in Marsabit. They fled after the Ethiopian army killed six people in El Leh.
"The number of those displaced is expected to keep increasing in the coming days. We are scaling up our support to ensure we attend to the critical humanitarian needs," Kenya Red Cross said.
"We have provided family kits, which include tarpaulins, kitchen sets, mosquito nets, bar soaps, thermal blankets and jerrycans. A medical team consisting of nurses, clinical officers, public health officers, as well as water, sanitation and hygiene officers are part of our wider response. Registration is continuous to ensure the displaced populations receive the needed humanitarian support."
Ethiopia has been unstable following the resignation of Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn.