11 Apr. (EUROPE PRESS) –
Nearly a thousand Somali refugees have been relocated to a new settlement in Ethiopia after crossing the common border fleeing fighting in the city of Las Anod, in dispute between the Puntland and Somaliland regions, as confirmed by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
UNHCR spokesperson Olga Sarrado has specified that “the relocation of refugees recently arrived in the Ethiopian region of Somali after fleeing the fighting in Las Anod has started”, before detailing that “1,036 of the most vulnerable have been transferred from areas border crossings to a new settlement during the last three days”.
“The transport to the new site, located about 50 kilometers from the border in Mirqaan, Boj district, is being organized by the Ethiopian Refugee and Returnee Service (RRS) together with UNHCR and other partners,” he said, while which has pointed out that all of them are being registered before the delivery of “a tent and other essential goods to establish their new home”.
He also stressed that “the Government of Ethiopia has generously provided 400 hectares so that refugees can settle and access existing services.” “UNHCR continues to engage with local authorities and leaders to assess gaps in basic services to support the benefit of refugees and Ethiopians,” she explained.
“The place is being developed with the help of volunteers from the local community. UNHCR is also increasing its staff in the area,” he asserted, before indicating that during the past week the arrival of 91,000 people was registered due to the continued arrival of refugees from Somalia.
Serrado has said that “the majority are women, children and the elderly” and has added that “among them there are more than 3,400 unaccompanied and separated children and adolescents.” “They have told UNHCR heartbreaking stories of how they were separated (from their families) when the fighting started and have not been able to re-establish contact with their relatives or guardians ever since.”
“While many refugees are being welcomed by Ethiopian families in their homes, others who crossed the border into Ethiopia remain in overcrowded places or sleeping rough and in need of urgent assistance,” the UNHCR spokeswoman warned.
In this way, it has stressed that “the establishment of this site in Mirqqan will respond to the growing needs and facilitate the delivery of assistance, including shelter, essential goods, food and water, to those who do not have ties to the community.”
Various United Nations agencies and NGOs last week demanded 116 million dollars (about 107 million euros) to give “vital aid” to more than 100,000 Somalis who have crossed the border with Ethiopia fleeing the fighting that has been going on since February in Las Anodes.
Fighting broke out on 6 February in Las Anod, the administrative center of the Sool region, between Somaliland forces and militant groups after local leaders represented in the so-called Unity and Salvation Authority of the Sool, Sanaag and Cayn (SSC) declare their intention to rejoin federal Somalia.
Somaliland declared independence from Somalia in 1991, but has not gained wide international recognition for its status and has faced opposition from some clan elders in disputed areas along its border with Somalia’s semi-autonomous Puntland state.
