UNHCR to establish new camp in Ethiopia for fleeing Somalis
By Tesfa-alem Tekle
February 18, 2009 (ADDIS ABABA) — A new camp to accommodate the thousands of Somalis fleeing violence in their country is to be set up in south-eastern Ethiopia, the UN agency for (UNHCR) said.
According to Save the Children and the office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), an estimated 10,000 Somali asylum-seekers mostly women and children, have arrived border towns of Ethiopia’s Somali Region following Ethiopia’s full withdrawal in the beginning of the year.
International organizations estimate that the above figure (Somalis seeking refuge in Ethiopia) will rise to 25,000 over the next few weeks.
According to UNHCR latest report, most of the recent arrivals were from Belet Hawa, Luuq, Dolo Gedo and Bardhere in Gedo region. Some had also come from Wajid and Hudur towns in Bakool region, the capital Mogadishu, and the parliamentary seat of Baidoa.
“They feared that the Al Shebab militias, which are in control to some key towns, will prosecute them for alleged support for the Ethiopian troops,” Kisut Gebre Egziabher, UNHCR spokesperson in Ethiopia said. “They told us they came here to save their lives.”
“The Somali regional state gave us a new campsite 86km from the border,” Kisut said adding “When we establish a camp, it should not be far from the location of the asylum-seekers.”
“We need the support of all concerned bodies to act quickly and effectively in order to mitigate further suffering of the asylum-seekers,” said Cosmas Chanda, UNHCR deputy representative in Ethiopia
About 150 Somalis are being reported of crossing the borders to Ethiopia each day. Preliminary registrations had shown a number of cases needing special attention, including pregnant women, the elderly and people with disabilities.
Currently Some 33,000 Somali refugees live in three camps in Somali Region, namely Kebribeyah, Awbarre and Sheder, UNHCR noted. While these camps are near north-eastern Somalia, the recent influx was from Central and Southern Somalia.
(ST)