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
-
Kigali sees economic sense in helping refugee entrepreneurs
27 Dec 2018 Support scheme in Rwandan capital and elsewhere sees refugee businesses including Burundian-owned LPG store create 2,600 new jobs countrywide. -
In Kigali, refugees thrive and give back to the city
26 Dec 2018 -
The Goliaths - #DoItLuQuLuQu
24 Dec 2018 -
Opening discussion - 11th High Commissioner's Dialogue
24 Dec 2018 -
Christmas Choir Brings Together Refugees and Lebanese
24 Dec 2018 -
Joy to behold: Deaf children's choir warms hearts at Christmas
24 Dec 2018 In Lebanon, children's choir featuring deaf Syrian refugees and locals and a 160-strong ensemble including refugee performers help to spread some seasonal cheer. -
The Goliaths
The Goliaths are High-Level Influencers for UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency's LuQuLuQu campaign, and they use their platform to create awareness and raise funds to help forcibly displaced families restart their lives. -
Ancillar Mangena
Ancillar became a High Level Influencer for UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency's LuQuLuQu campaign in 2017. -
Ayanda Makayi - #DoItLuQuLuQu
21 Dec 2018