UNHCR representative acclaims Ethiopia’s exemplary role in hosting refugees

Addis Ababa, March 8, 2023 (FBC) – Despite its challenges, Ethiopia keeps showing solidarity with the international community and keeps opening its doors to people who are in need of international protection, said Mamadou Dian Balde, the UNHCR representative to Ethiopia.

Speaking to Al Jazeera, Mr Balde confirmed that women, children, and people with disability have fleed to Ethiopia due to the violence in the city of Laascaanood, in Sool region of Somalia in the past four weeks.

Despite their own challenges the federal and regional government shown solidarity to rescue and support the refugees who need international protection, the UNHCR representative acknowledged.

He mentioned that the refugees are staying in 13 different locations in Ethiopia’s Doolo Zone in the Somali region. The most pressing needs in the refugee camps, according to Mr. Balde, are access to water, shelter, protection services, education, food, and others.

“Leading by example, Ethiopia keeps showing solidarity with the international community even though it is dealing with its own challenges. It keeps opening its door to people who are in need of in need of international protection”, he said.

The official further confirmed that the Ethiopian government, Refugees and Returnees Service of Ethiopia (RRS), UNHCR, and local and international partners are providing urgent services to the refugees.

Yet, he recalled that the area that the refugees are staying is drought-stricken due to inadequate rain in the past six years. “They have come to the area that has suffered from drought from limited or no rain in the past six years”, the official noted.

Mr. Balde appealed for strong international support to respond to the critical needs to the refugees and the drought-affected host communities. He also emphasized the need to create conditions to return the refugees to their country as quickly as possible.