Addis Ababa: Despite Ethiopia’s notable efforts in hosting refugees, the support from partner countries and organizations is insufficient to meet the growing needs of refugees, International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD) Pan-Africa Region head said.
According to Ethiopian News Agency, Ethiopia, one of the leading refugee-hosting countries in Africa, hosts more than 1 million refugees and asylum seekers. The overwhelming majority of refugees and asylum-seekers originate from South Sudan, Somalia, Eritrea, and Sudan.
ICMPD Pan-Africa Region Head, Monica Zanette, told ENA that the centre is aware of the important role of Ethiopia as one of the countries most challenged by the influx of refugees. ‘We are very aware of this important role of Ethiopia as one of the countries in the world that are mostly challenged by refugees. And we know that the response is being very generous,’ she noted.
The head, however, stressed that the challenges are significant, and while there is support, it is not enough to fully address the situation. In this respect, the ICMPD is actively collaborating with the Ethiopian government through the Khartoum Process, focusing on operational support and enhancing resources for refugee management, Zanette stated. ‘We are working with the Ethiopian government through the Khartoum Process and discussing the supports and operations that we can give to the country on the ground. We are open, ready and willing to do so.’
The Khartoum Process is a platform for political cooperation among the countries along the migration route between the Horn of Africa and Europe to establish a continuous dialogue for enhanced collaboration on migration and mobility by giving a new impetus to the regional collaboration between countries of origin, transit, and destination regarding the migration route between the Horn of Africa and Europe.
Founded in 1993 by the initiative of Switzerland and Austria, International Centre for Migration Policy Development is an inter-governmental organization with UN Observer status and makes policy recommendations on migration-related issues to governments and intergovernmental agencies.