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
-
UN refugee chief visits Myanmar this week
20 May 2019 -
Syrian runner races to prove that "refugees are visible''
20 May 2019 -
Syrian runner overcomes obstacles to triumph in Lebanon
20 May 2019 Former national obstacle course champion achieves major success in exile, beating the odds to show that 'being a refugee doesn't make us invisible.' -
UNHCR saddened by civilian casualties in Sana'a, Yemen
17 May 2019 -
Over 250,000 Rohingya refugees get identity documents, for many a first
17 May 2019 -
Registration gives many Rohingya refugees identification for the first time
17 May 2019 More than 270,000 stateless refugees from Myanmar provided with identity cards in an ongoing registration drive. -
Welcome to UNHCR
-
IDAHOT: UNHCR launching consultations on LGBTI refugees' rights
16 May 2019 -
IDAHOT 2019 - UNHCR chief Filippo Grandi statement
16 May 2019