Eritreans fleeing ‘repression’ continue entering Ethiopia

Sept 13, 2005 (ADDIS ABABA) — Around 2,000 Eritrean refugees have fled alleged repression into neighbouring Ethiopia since January, bringing their population in camps there to nearly 10,000, the UN food agency said Tuesday.

Between 200 and 300 refugees have been arriving in Ethiopia every month, said the World Food Programme representative here, Lisetta Trebbi.

Most of the refugees are aged between 18 and 30 and are fleeing compulsory national service, political repression and economic problems, she told AFP.

They are currently housed at a camp — home to a total of 9,600 refugees — about 60 kilometres from the border.

Relations between the two African neighbours have been strained since they fought a devastating 1998-2000 border war.

(AFP)