IOM is asking the donor community to provide USD 1.1 million to facilitate the continued relocation assistance which the Organization is providing to thousands of Sudanese displaced by the fighting in the Blue Nile region of Sudan. The fighting, which began in early September, has caused more than 25,000 persons to flee their homes and take refuge in Kurmuk and other points along the Ethiopia – Sudan border. The funds will help to maintain and increase the transport assistance which IOM is currently providing to the displaced by relocating them from border areas to established refugee camps in Western Ethiopia, where basic services and better protection can be provided. The majority of the displaced Sudanese are currently residing in temporary settlements in Kurmuk and other areas, sharing inadequate accommodation and meagre resources. The new funds will help relocate up to 35,000 displaced Sudanese and decongest the settlements at Kurmuk, reducing the threat of any disease outbreak. Since fighting began in September, IOM has provided transport assistance to several hundreds of the displaced. However, as the situation deteriorates and more Sudanese arrive, additional requests for transport assistance to the established camps are being received from community elders among the displaced. IOM currently operates 10 buses and three trucks to transport the Sudanese and their belongings from the Ethiopian border areas to Sherkole camp, a distance of 50 kilometres. As this camp will be reaching its full capacity shortly, IOM is preparing to extend transportation to a new camp at Tongo, more than 100 kilometres from the Kurmuk border crossing. IOM is also preparing to set up counselling facilities in the camps to provide psycho-social support to the Sudanese who have been traumatized by the violence they have fled. For more information please contact: Josiah Ogina IOM Ethiopia Tel: +251-91-151-7652 E-mail: "mailto:jogina@iom.int" target="" title="">jogina@iom.int