The UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi on Sunday called for international support for Sudan as the country takes in more than 43,000 refugees who have fled fighting in neighbouring Ethiopia in recent weeks.

Grandi said the decision by the government in Khartoum to receive the refugees, almost half of whom are children, was an example to the international community but the country needed help to bear the additional responsibility. 

On Monday, PM Abiy Ahmed claimed that most of the people in refugee camps were male youths who are suspected of taking part in a massacre of civilians in Mai Kadra.

Sudan is increasing scrutiny of people seeking refuge in its territory from Ethiopia’s Tigray region.

Khartoum is worried that fighters allied to the Tigray Peoples Liberation Front, accused of rebellion by Addis Ababa, could disguise as refugees to enter its territory and later set up rebel bases there.