Eritreans influx to Ethiopia doubles in 2009

By Tesfa-alem Tekle

September 12, 2009 (ADDIS ABABA) — The Ethiopian Administration for Refugees and Returnees Affairs (ARRA), an implementing partner of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), said today that The number of Eritreans fleeing to Ethiopia has doubled this year.

In its annual report, ARRA said that every month, on average, 1122 Eritreans are crossing borders to Ethiopia and this figure is twofold comparing to that of last year’s average, 600.

With a shot-to kill policy being in effect along the borders in Eritrea (according to recent arrivals), on daily bases a number of Eritreans risk their life in an attempt to cross heavily armed and patrolled borders of Eritrea.

According to a latest source from the administration, with thousands already resettled to a third country, currently there are 36,402 Eritrean refugees in four Ethiopian camps.

RESETTLEMENT OPERATION

Meanwhile the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) in collaboration with the international Organization for Migration (IOM) continues group-resettlement to Eritrean refugees residing in different camps in Ethiopia.

Accordingly, among the total 6,800 granted, since June, 782 Eritrean refugees have flown to the United States. An additional 1815 refugees will follow during October and December 2009.

So far 5719 Eritreans who might risk return back are resettled from Ethiopia to a third country to begin a new life.

Eritreans are flooding to neighboring countries complaining an alleged prosecution, intimidation and harassment at home by the Eritrean government.

The refugees, also many from rural origins, receive pre-departure orientation to avoid “culture shock” up on arrival.

Eritreans and Ethiopians are soft spoken, modest and shy by nature. So on top of this personality, in most cases they find it challenging to easily blend in to the most modern and different western style unless an intensive and consistent trainings and briefing are offered up on arrival too.

(ST)