Geneva, 20 February 2022 (TDI): UNHCR highly condemns the attack on a refugee camp in the neighboring state of Eritrea, Ethiopia. UNHCR spokesperson Boris Cheshirkov condemn the current situation. He condemns the attack on the refugee camp while addressing today’s press briefing in Geneva, Switzerland.
United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) is a global organization. Currently, UNHCR is working with the Ethiopian authorities and partners to provide emergency aid to thousands of Eritrean refugees.
#Ethiopia: In coordination with @EthioRedCross, we finished delivering household & shelter items to more than 12,000 people displaced from Berhale, Abala, Erebti & Megale & sheltered in Afdera area & displaced from Erebti & sheltered in Gudikoma area of #Afar region. pic.twitter.com/WvhWSpKGGw
— ICRC Ethiopia (@ICRCEthiopia) February 16, 2022
The Refugees Fate
Fighting in the north of Ethiopia caused a heavy refugees crisis. The current attack engenders five people dead and thousands to flee. This month the attacks incite more than 100,000 Eritrean refugees in Ethiopia. In addition to this on February 03, five refugees were killed and several women were kidnapped after armed men entered the camps.
The UN refugees’ agency said in a statement that “Family members lost one another in the chaos of fleeing the camp.” In addition, a refugee named Mahamooda Ahmed said, “I had never seen soldiers open fire on civilians. There were no soldiers for them to fight.”
“It was civilians, including women and children. They were using very heavy weapons,” he added.
According to Human rights Watch (HRW), Eritrean governmental forces and Tigrayan militants are involved in killing, rape, and other human rights abuses. These are against Eritrean refugees in Ethiopia’s Tigray region.
Refugees Situation in Ethiopia
According to UNHCR, over 4000 refugees are in a camp located in Semera. UNHCR along with Ethiopia’s Government Refugees and Returnees Service (RRS) is providing necessary services to the refugees. This includes immediate support, like shelter, food, water, and relief items.
Additionally, around 10,000 refugees are also reported to be living in Afdera town, Ethiopia. The government of Ethiopia has also identified a temporary site in Sedo town where the refugees will be relocated with the help of UNHCR and RRS.
In addition, Human Rights Watch reported in October 2020 that Ethiopia hosted approximately 149,000 registered Eritrean refugees. As of November 2020, humanitarian agencies are unable to access various camps due to insecurity.
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