Ethiopia hosts over 100,000 African refugees

June 20, 2006

Ethiopia said Monday it is currently hosting over 100,000 African refugees.

They are from Somalia, Sudan, Eritrea and other African countries, said Ethiopia's Administration for Refugee and Returnee Affairs, the country's watchdog for foreign refugees.

Over 2,542 refugees from Sudan have voluntarily returned to their country following a tripartite agreement signed between the governments of Ethiopia, Sudan and United Nations High Commissioner for Refuge (UNHCR).

The tripartite agreement, which was signed here on February 27, cleared the way for the return home of over 70,000 Sudanese refugees in Ethiopia.

In a statement in connection with World Refugee Day, the administration also said the refugees' hope to return back to their land has been realized, the administration said, adding that Ethiopia would exert unlimited efforts to realize the tripartite agreement.

The statement said, while marking the World Refugee Day, Ethiopia is renovating the international and continental agreements it signed previously and furthering the reception it has been providing to the refugees.

The statement indicated this year's refugee day would be marked under the theme "Hope" based on UNHCR's decision to reflect the hope of international refugees to return back to their homeland.

UNHCR adopted June 20 to be marked as the World Refugee Day in 2000.

Source: Xinhua