Return of 2,400 Somali refugees leads to closing of third camp in Ethiopia
The voluntary return of more than 2,400 Somali refugees last week brings to more than 50,000 the number of voluntary repatriations last year and leads to the closing of a third refugee camp in Ethiopia.
ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, Jan. 2 (UNHCR) - The repatriation of thousands of Somali refugees from Ethiopia has continued at a steady pace, reflecting a more stable situation in parts of the east African country and leading to the closing of three of eight refugee camps.
Two convoys last week repatriated 2,412 people from Ethiopia's Daror camp to north-west Somalia, bringing the total number of refugees who returned home in 2001 to 50,216. The latest returnees received a nine-month food ration, plastic sheeting and blankets to help them restart their lives.
The Daror complex, which includes health clinics, schools, water systems and generators, and which once hosted 50,000 refugees, will be handed over by UNHCR to the local community.
Earlier last year, Teferiber and Dawarnaji camps were also closed.
Another estimated 67,000 Somalis who fled following the outbreak of widespread civil war a decade ago remain in five other camps in Ethiopia. More than half are expected to return home by June, but some 30,000 others from southern Somalia cannot be repatriated because the security situation in that part of the country remains unstable.
Related news and stories
Thousands of newly arrived Somali refugees in Ethiopia relocated to new settlement
Samira's Story
Drought brings life-threatening food shortages for refugees in Ethiopia
100,000 new Somali refugees arrive in Ethiopia in the past month, UN and partners are calling for urgent funding
UNHCR teams and partners rush assistance to some 100,000 newly arrived Somali refugees in hard-to-reach area of Ethiopia
As the Horn of Africa drought enters a sixth failed rainy season, UNHCR calls for urgent assistance
-
UNHCR launches new season of award-winning podcast on humanitarian workers
24 May 2019 -
Rohingya refugee men join push to curb sexual violence
24 May 2019 Volunteer outreach programme in Bangladesh refugee settlements recruits men to challenge gender violence, forced marriages. -
Sexual and gender-based violence. Prevention, risk mitigation and response
24 May 2019 -
UN High Commissioner for Refugees concludes visit to Myanmar
24 May 2019 During five-day trip, Filippo Grandi pledges support for the displaced and help to build the confidence Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh need to return safely and voluntarily. -
Documentation drive targets excluded Côte d'Ivoire villagers
22 May 2019 A successful campaign encourages rural inhabitants at risk of statelessness to sign up to obtain documents allowing them to participate in national life. -
Syrian Sweet Maker in Egypt
21 May 2019 -
Majority fleeing Venezuela in need of refugee protection - UNHCR
21 May 2019 -
Death threats and disease drive more Venezuelans to flee
21 May 2019 UNHCR calls on states to allow refugees and migrants from Venezuela to access safety, as security and humanitarian situation worsens in their country. -
Taking the fight for rights to Côte d'Ivoire's 'forgotten'
21 May 2019