Ethiopia reiterates commitment to enhance self-reliance of refugees

Addis Ababa, October 15, 2024 (FBC) – Ambassador Tsegab Kebebew, Permanent Representative of Ethiopia at the UN, addressed the 75th Session of the UNHCR Executive Committee. In his remarks, he reiterated Ethiopia’s commitment to provide protection to people who seek international protection.

He stated that refugees in Ethiopia enjoy the right to access basic services, including education and health services under the national system, the right to work, and freedom of movement.  He also outlined Ethiopia’s bold commitments that were made during GRF 2023, of which many focus on enhancing self-reliance of refugees.

Ambassador Tsegab also underlined that climate change poses major challenges for countries like Ethiopia that host a significant number of refugee population. He said that Ethiopia is taking concrete measures including plantation of millions of multi-purpose seedlings in refugee camps and hosting areas with the aim of restoring degraded lands.

Ambassador Tsegab emphasized that the serious underfunding that Ethiopia’s refugee response plan facing compromises the quality of refugee protection. Therefore, he urged donors to provide timely financial assistance to save lives and provide the necessary protection and basic services to the refugees.

An Ethiopian delegation composed of the Ethiopian Mission in Geneva and experts from Refugees and Returnees Service is participating at the 75th Session of the UNHCR Executive committee meeting  which is ongoing from October 14-18, 2024.