ADAMA – Media outlets ought to advocate Ethiopia’s contribution and commitment towards refugee care and treatment, so urged the Ethiopian Refugees and ReturneesService (RRS).
Briefing the media who attended a three-day trainings focusing on Ethiopian refugee proclamation and other legal frameworks as well as humanitarian communication and emergency reporting, RSS Director General, Teyiba Hasssen said Ethiopia hosts over one million refugees from 26 countries.
This is a testimony of the commitment of the people and government of Ethiopia to support refugees, she noted.
Ahead of accepting and endorsing the international conventions towards refugees, Teyiba mentioned that the country has had a history of receiving asylum seekers since the 7th century and even earlier.
“Though it has internal problems, including the recurrent drought, the country has been accepting refugees, coming up with an open-door policy for refugees. However, this kind of extended commitment by the country had not been well advocated. Media is a powerful instrument that has both negative and positive impacts. If we use it for good, it would have a positive impact in terms of building a country’s image and vice versa,” she added.
In this regard, the Director General said, the training helps journalists raise their awareness and further advocate Ethiopia’s commitment in refugee care and treatment.
The issue of receiving refugees is not only about humanitarianism it rather have also political and security aspects, she stated.
“The Ethiopian refugee admission is a commitmentof which we are proud. Thus, we want you to advocate refugee treatment issues,” she urged the media.
BY GIRMACHEW GASHAW
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD SUNDAY EDITION 11 FEBRUARY 2024
