Germany pledges 750,000 Euro aid to Eritrean refugees in Ethiopia
May 21, 2008 (ADDIS ABABA) — The government of Germany on Monday pledged a total of 750,000 euro humanitarian aid for the thousands of Eritrean refugees in Ethiopia.
According to a press released by Germany embassy in Addis, the pledge is in reaction to the united Nation higher Commissioner for refugees(UNHCR’s) appeal for more help to meet the increasing humanitarian aid needed for the non-stop influx of Eritrean refugees to Ethiopia.
Eritrea’s foe, Ethiopia, currently hosts some 25 thousand Eritrean refugees at Shimelba, a refugee camp located in the northern Ethiopia’s Tigray region, by the borders to Eritrea.
The aid will directly go to the project UNHCR is executing for humanitarian assistance and protection for the Eritrean refugees in Ethiopia. Germany ambassador to Ethiopia, Dr.Claas Dieter Knoop said.
An international attention needs to be paid for the constant influx of new refugees from Eritrea, so as to timely meet prior needs of the refugees and to provide the logistical support requested for the operation to run swiftly. It said.
The ambassador expressed his hope that the donation his country is about to make will have a considerable role in alleviating the situation the refugees are in.
According to latest reports from the refugees and returnees affairs bureau of Tigray region, Shimelba camp, locally also known as ‘small Eritrea’ is hosting Eritrean refugees beyond its carrying capacity.
Recently the federal government of Ethiopia together with funds from UNHCR has launched the construction of three more refugee camps for Eritrean refugees in Tigray and Afar regions.
Every month an average of 600 Eritreans cross to the borders of Ethiopia in protest to the harsh treatment they face at home.
In recent years, International human rights organizations have labeled the red-sea nation amongst the top human right violating countries worldwide.
(ST)