Government of Ethiopia
Date: 02 Aug 2010
ARRA Protection and Law Department Head, Estifanos Gebremedhin, said that Ethiopia is fulfilling its international obligation by ensuring the safety and security of refugees sheltered in the country.
He said the country is implementing efficiently the agreement it signed in 1951 to respect, host and treat refugees despite the challenges occurred as a result of continued influx of refugees from neighboring countries.
Ethiopia is among the few countries that are stretching their hands to refugees and its continued effort to create favorable situation for refugees is appreciated by UNHCR, WFP and other international organizations.
He said the country is committed to protect and become as a second country to refugees coming from neighboring countries such as Eritrea, Somalia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Sudan, and Burundi.
Secondary and primary schools, health centers, hospitals, roads and potable water facilities were built in the refugee comps to fulfill their basic needs, said Estifanos.
Asked why Eritrean and Somali refugees are opting to enter Ethiopia in spite of the anti-Ethiopia propaganda spreading in their perspective country, he said, the refugees are well aware of Ethiopia's political stability.
The hospitability of the people, the favorable policies, kindness of the government in protecting and receiving refugees and the political stability are attracting refugees to Ethiopia, Estifanos said.
Ethiopia is currently hosting close to 150,000 refugees and is also receiving more than 1, 800 Eritrean and 2,000 Somali refugees in each month, he said.
He further said more than 36,000 southern Sudanese have been repatriated during the past five years following the relative peace prevailed in their country.
According to him, repatriation for Eritrean and Somali refugees at this critical time is not advisable as they will face severe torture and persecution by the government in Asmara and Alshabab insurgents in Somalia.
According to Estifanos, hosting refugees have disadvantage and advantage.
Receiving and protecting refugees enable to create good neighborhood and people to people relations, while losing forest resources and wildlife are among the disadvantage, he added.
Estifanos finally called on the international community to provide assistance so as to address the food shortage faced due to the increasing influx of refugee from Eritrea and Somalia.