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 issues urgent appeal to stop forced returns of Myanmar nationals
20 Oct 2022 This news comment is attributable to Gillian Triggs, UNHCR's Assistant High Commissioner for Protection -
Ukraine
20 Oct 2022 -
Evidence on Learning Outcomes for Refugees: A rapid review
19 Oct 2022 The present review aims at understanding the state of the evidence regarding learning outcomes for refugees and displaced learners. This includes both academic and non-academic outcomes, with an emphasis on SEL in the latter case. -
Weary of men's wars, South Sudan's women risk all for peace
19 Oct 2022 Their sons and brothers got caught up in the bush wars roiling the world's youngest country, so the women decided to bring them home. -
To the refugee father I only met once, but whose story changed my life
18 Oct 2022 In this occasional series, we will feature letters from people to refugees who have shaped their lives. -
Speech to UNHCR Executive Committee - Reporting from the 2022 UNHCR Consultations with NGOs
18 Oct 2022 -
DAFI programme evaluation summary 2022
18 Oct 2022 Evaluation of the UNHCR Tertiary Education Scholarship Programme (DAFI): relevance, effectiveness, impact – summary Report. -
Burundi
17 Oct 2022 -
Niger
17 Oct 2022