Ethiopia has a long history of welcoming refugees. Throughout its history, the country has at all times been a safe haven to those people coming to it seeking protection. The nation receives refugees with its open arms. There had never been a time or occasion that Ethiopia turned its face back and closed its doors on those asylum seekers coming into its territory fleeing their home countries due to several pushing factors.
Despite its own challenges, it has always been a nation that provides a secure environment and a relaxing atmosphere that induces a spirit of solidarity in the minds of refugees.
In fact, Ethiopia’s commitment to hosting refugees was not a new trend. Rather it has a firmly established ground that dates back to the seventh century when the country granted asylums to followers of the Prophet Mohammed who fled Arabia and came to Ethiopia fearing persecution of the Quraysh tribe.
Even these days, this longstanding culture of welcoming refugees and asylum seekers has further enhanced and continued making it one of the countries hosting the highest number of refugees.
According to Ethiopia Refugees and Returnees Service, the country is currently home to more than 1,000,000 refugees and asylum seekers from some 26 countries making it the second largest refugee hosting nation in Africa. The majority of these refugees originate from neighboring South Sudan, Somalia, Sudan, and Eritrea and are sheltered in 24 camps and sites while some others are allowed to live outside camps, including the capital Addis Ababa with due recognition of the urban refugee status to eligible persons.
Ethiopia’s commitment to support and improve the lives of refugees and asylum seekers was further strengthened when it enacted a new law that allows refugees to engage in income-generating activities and become self-reliant economically, as well as the right to access education opportunities and social services, including healthcare, banking and legal services among others.
As a result of this, hundreds of thousands of school-age children in camps can access education, and thousands of adults are benefitting from jobs created across various sectors.
At the Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture (RUFORUM) held in Windhoek, Namibia, from 12-16 August 2024, it was stated that over 176,000 refugees are benefitting from the educational opportunities created by Ethiopia.
Speaking at the 2nd Triennial Conference ‘Refugee Education Framework for Inclusion and Access to Higher and Tertiary Education in Africa’ on the sideline meeting of RUFORUM, Ethiopian Higher Education State Minister, Kora Tushune, said that, 176,000 have been provided educational opportunities, ranging from primary school to university level, demonstrating the country’s commitment to supporting the government.
According to the State Minister, Ethiopia has been assisting these refugees by providing them with educational opportunities to improve their prospects; he added that some refugees have even been granted university scholarships up to the master’s level, with all their expenses covered by the Ethiopian government.
RUFORUM and its partners have been working to provide higher education opportunities for refugees. As a result, member universities of the forum have shared their experiences and discussed the education they provide to refugees.
The conference was attended by Higher Education Ministers, University presidents, and vice-chancellors from member institutions as well as representatives of international organizations working on refugee issues.
At the forum, aside from Higher Education State Minister, Kora Tushune, President of Haramaya University Jamal Yusuf (PhD.), and the Vice President of Wollo University Awel Seid (PhD) took part, as Haramaya University reported.
In the same way, Ethiopia also benefits refugees by creating job opportunities in various sectors. According to a recent report from the Refugees and Returnees Service (RRS), Ethiopia has created over 33,000 jobs for refugees in various sectors during the last fiscal year.
The Refugees Protection and Return Department Deputy Director General and Leader Biruhtesfa Mulugeta highlighted that these jobs include self-employment opportunities, such as running shops and engaging in trade, and positions with employers.
As the Deputy Director General stated to EPA, the Ethiopian government has been actively providing legal protection and employment opportunities for refugees in collaboration with various stakeholders. Ethiopia currently hosts refugees from over 27 nations, with the majority coming from neighboring countries, particularly South Sudan, which accounts for 50 percent of the refugee population. The total number of refugees in Ethiopia has now surpassed 1.1 million.
While some foreign media outlets have reported that refugees in conflict-affected areas of Ethiopia are under attack, Biruhtesfa clarified that these reports lack accurate information. He acknowledged that refugees sometimes face dangers when they leave their camps, but emphasized that the RRS is committed to raising awareness and providing essential services to ensure their safety.
In terms of urban refugees, over 81,000 are currently residing in Addis Ababa, while cities like Shire and Mekelle in Tigray State have also become key urban centers for refugees. Special licenses are granted to those who meet certain criteria, such as students pursuing higher education and individuals with serious medical conditions.
Job opportunities for refugees vary depending on the location and the specific projects in place. In some areas, refugees and the host community share employment opportunities equally, while in others, the distribution may differ, he added.
The RRS also prioritizes the registration and provision of digital identity cards for refugees, particularly those over the age of 14, to ensure that they receive the necessary support and protection. Special attention is also given to vulnerable groups, including women, children, and persons with disabilities (PwDs), to safeguard their well-being, Biruhtesfa elaborated.
The RRS has called on international partners to continue their support to ensure sustainable protection and services for refugees and asylum seekers in Ethiopia.
The digital identification initiative in Ethiopia for refugees and asylum-seekers has created a new opportunity to have a secure and organized information system in the country’s national systems, allowing refugees to access key national services, it was learned.
BY ELIZABETH MENGISTU
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD SATURDAY 24 AUGUST 2024
