 Most of the estimated 260,000 Kunama live in the remote and isolated area between the Gash and Setit rivers near the border with Ethiopia.The Kunama people have ancient ancestry in the land of Eritea  The Ethiopian-Eritrean War (1998–2000) forced some 4,000 Kunama to flee their homes to Ethiopia.As refugees they reside in the tense area just over the border with Eritrea and in proximity to the contested border village of Badme.