More Eritrean refugees fly to USA from Ethiopia

July 22, 2010(ADDIS ABABA) – UN refugee agency (UNHCR) has continued to resettle Eritrean refugees from camps in Ethiopia to the United States under the third country resettlement program.

According to a statement by the Administration for Refugees and Returnees Affairs (ARRA) seen by Sudan tribune, some 122 Eritrean refugees were flown to the United States on Friday to lead a new life in there after being exiled for years in different camps in the northern Ethiopia not far from the borders to Eritrea.

It could take up to three years or more to process one refugee to a third country. Those impatient seek own way by attempting to cross to other neighboring countries.

Despite the risks on their life by border security guards, every month over 1800 Eritreans from all wakes of life cross into Ethiopia complaining of alleged persecution and harassment by the Eritrean government. The Administration alleged 45% of the arrivals are government soldiers.

Those who already made it to Ethiopia refuse a return home in fear of a likely harsh consequences by the Eritrean government and the UNHCR believes that resettlement to a third country is the only suitable option for them.

In 2008, the US government offered to receive 6,800 Eritrean refugees from various camps in Ethiopia.

In 2009 alone, some 1,650 Eritrean refugees were resettled to the United States under the third country operation. Many others were resettled to other western countries.

After UNHCR in cooperation with IOM and the Ethiopian government began the resettlement program, nearly 6000 Eritrean refugees are resettled to a third country.

ARRA said by the end of 2010, some 3,100 Eritrean refugees are expected to be resettled to different countries.

The number of Eritrean refugees coming to Ethiopia has increased in recent years. Currently, the horn nation shelters over 50,000 Eritrean refugees in four different camps

(ST)