Gov’t urges refugees not to move out from camps in irregular manner

Addis Ababa, December 11, 2020 (FBC) –The Government of Ethiopia has urged Eritrean refugees not to move out from refugee camps in an irregular manner.

In a statement today, the State of Emergency Fact Checking office said a large number of misinformed Eritrean refugees are moving out in an irregular manner particularly from Tigray’s Mai-Ayni and Adi-Harush refugee camps to Addis Ababa.

“Such an unregulated movement of the refugees with high dependence on aid will create difficulties in ensuring their safety, security, dignity, and in providing a coordinated protection and assistance,” it added.

“The recently concluded law enforcement military operation by the Federal Government in the Tigray region of Ethiopia was not a direct threat to the Eritrean refugees who are living within and outside the camps.”

“At this point in time, the areas in Tigray region in which the Eritrean refugee camps are situated are stable given that they are under the full control of the Federal Government.”

According to the statement, the Government is safely returning those refugees to their respective camps where they can have access to service delivery systems, and more importantly they can live lawfully and peacefully with the communities that host them.

Ethiopia has a very long and cherished history of hospitality and generosity to people who are forcibly displaced due to man-made and natural calamities.

Currently, it is providing protection to nearly one million refugees mainly from South Sudan, Somalia, Eritrea, and Sudan sheltered in 26 camps and non-camp locations.

The Ethiopia refugee operation is now home to close to 200,000 Eritrean refugees across the country and most of them are mainly sheltered in Tigray and Afar regions as well as in Addis Ababa.