Repeated pleas go unheard
ADDIS ABABA –Ethiopia lamented dwindling international support to meet the burgeoning humanitarian aid to refugees seeking haven in the country.
The country also rebukes growing anti-immigrant and refugee sentiments in the most developed parts of the world.
Currently, Ethiopia hosts over 1. 1 million refugees and asylum seekers and continues to struggle with the influx of refugees fleeing recurrent conflicts and natural disasters in neighboring countries.
Ethiopia is now providing shelters to refugees in 27 canters. In contradiction the country is receiving support which is far from the required one, said Tayiba Hassen, Director General, refugee and Returnee service.
In an exclusive interview with The Ethiopian Herald, the Director General said that the international community’s support for refugees sheltering in the country is declining year to year despite repeated calls and pleas from the country.
“The country has been bearing the heaviest responsibility and the international community has left the country into the corner.”
There is a big decline in international support and the situation has not improved despite Ethiopia’s engagement with donors
The host country and the internal community have equal responsibilities to give better services to refugees.
Tayiba also rebukes the rising sentiment of anti-immigrants and refugees in some parts of the world. “Ethiopia strongly condemns these acts as they run in contradiction to international conventions and human rights,”
Ethiopia has been receiving refugees since the 7th century and continues to be the safest destination for migrants.
“Although the funding gap hurts refugees’ response operations, we will continue to provide the necessary assistance to refugees coming into the country,” Tayiba added.
BY DESTA GEBREHIWOT
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD TUESDAY 10 SEPTEMBER 2024
