ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia — Refugees flee to Ethiopia to avoid war and famine in their native countries. Although Ethiopia is in a state of political unrest, it is often a better option for refugees compared to neighboring countries in the Horn of Africa. Here are 10 facts about refugees in Ethiopia, the largest asylum country in Africa:
1. Ethiopia has been housing refugees since the 1990s. In the past 26 years, 23 major Ethiopian refugee camps have housed over 90,000 refugees, primarily from the Horn of Africa and South Sudan.
2. Refugees settling in Ethiopia are overwhelmed by the welcome they receive from natives. Over 700,000 refugees seeking asylum from surrounding communities in the Horn of Africa have settled in Ethiopia as of July 2015. The Ethiopian Foreign Security Policy and Strategy continues to promote peace and cooperation between Ethiopian natives and incoming refugees.
3. To maintain peaceful relations, the U.N. has established projects in host communities to ensure access to essential resources. With contributions to maintain natural resources at a low, the U.N. is providing shelter and sanitation in refugee camps, as well as grants for pilot educational and health care services.
4. Ethiopia prioritizes education for school-aged refugees. The school in Ethiopia’s Kule Refugee Camp protects many young men from being drafted as boy soldiers and young women from becoming child brides. By providing a quality education to young refugees, the school gives families hope that their children can become high achievers and providers. School officials hope to add three additional years of secondary school to help their students graduate with a more complete education.
5. Illegal immigration to Ethiopia is stirring a peaceful response from local artists. In refugee camps, artists Mai Ayni Hitsets and Deq Harush are using their talents to encourage legal migration and friendly relations. Over 20 thousand people have attended their concerts.
6. Jesuit Refugee Services (JRS) has been aiding refugees in Ethiopia for 20 years. Refugees welcome help from JRS after being let down by many other refugee services. According to one 33-year-old Congolese man, many other refugee services concern themselves primarily with paychecks and revenue.
7. Some refugees are leaving Ethiopia due to continuing political unrest. Yonas Kindel was a member of the 2016 Olympic refugee team. Kindel, a marathon runner, fled Ethiopia in 2011 and resettled in Luxembourg.
8. Voting in Ethiopia can be dangerous. Ethiopian emigrant Abulla Agwa told 702 ABC Sydney that he was excited to vote in his first Australian election, as voting in Ethiopia was often conducted at gunpoint to ensure certain results.
9. In coming years, the number of refugees seeking asylum in Ethiopia will continue to grow. As turmoil in South Sudan persists, the majority of its citizens will likely migrate to Ethiopia. An estimated 300 thousand South Sudanese are expected to resettle in Ethiopia, increasing the country’s need for resources and volunteers.
10. Refugees at the Leitchor refugee camp in Ethiopia’s Gambella region are becoming part of the solution. Almost 300 refugees are now members of the Ethiopian Red Cross. These volunteers receive training to provide healthcare and hygiene information to their fellow refugees.
Despite a lack of resources and funding, refugees in Ethiopia are joining forces to promote the concept of a joint community of diverse groups finding refuge in Ethiopia.
– Kat Hobbs
Photo: Flickr