As the number of refugees Ethiopia is hosting continues to increase, the country has launched a two-years’ refugee response plan in partnership with the UN agency.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has joined hands with the Government of Ethiopia in the new plan to ensure the coherence and alignment of all planned interventions and to harness the transformational agenda of the global Compact on Refugees.
Ethiopia has hosted over 735,000 refugees from 26 nations in 26 refugee camps across six regional states at the beginning of the year 2020 of which over 96,700 refugees have arrived in the year 2019, according to Ann Encontre, UNHCR Country representative. She noted that the figure is expected to grow by 17,000 at the end of the year as the influx of refugees has continued.
Meanwhile Addisu Kebenesa, Deputy Director General of the state agency, Agency for Refuges and Returnees Affairs (ARRA) said that Ethiopia is hosting nearly one million refugees and Ethiopian government is advocating for self reliance of refugees by revising its refugees laws in addition to stable humanitarian aid.
The response plan launched on Friday in the capital, Addis Ababa aims to improve the coordination of all relevant actors for the effective protection of refugees, according to Addisu.
The plan that involves 57 development and donor agencies is expected to enhance stable humanitarian financing and support refugees’ self-reliance efforts. The combined financial requirement to assist this population is $658 million for both humanitarian and development financing, which needs strong intervention, cooperation and integration of development partners.
She added that Ethiopia has revised its refugee low which incorporates the key refugees low which incorporates the key principles of UN and AU conventions which provide wider rights like reside out of campus, access for social and financial services, job opportunities’ and vital events registration.
Mr. Addisu stated that two year plan aims at enhancing both stable humanitarians financing and to facilitate Ethiopia’s development operations for refugees and host communities.
SOURCE – THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD – JANUARY 25, 2020