The Ethiopian Human Rights Commission (EHRC) organized a consultative workshop on December 26, 2024, in Harar city to discuss the current challenges faced by refugees and asylum seekers in Awbare, Shedder and Kebribeyah refugee camps located in the Jigjiga area. The workshop aimed to share the key findings from EHRC’s human rights situation monitoring with stakeholders and advocate for better protection of refugees’ and asylum seekers’ rights. The event brought together representatives from governmental and non-governmental organizations, refugee representatives and UN agencies working in the three camps.
During the consultation, EHRC presented its monitoring findings on the human rights situation of refugees and asylum seekers in the three refugee camps, highlighting both positive developments and persistent challenges. While peace and security within the camps have been relatively stable, creating a conducive environment for refugee protection, the monitoring highlighted multiple challenges. These include delays in the refugee status determination process and limited access to essential documentation, restricted access to justice mechanisms and inadequate access to basic services such as food, non-food items, shelter, healthcare and education.
The monitoring also identified specific vulnerabilities faced by children, women, older persons and persons with disabilities. Additionally, it revealed gaps in implementing the Kebribeyah Inclusion Plan, a five-year Road Map (2023-2027) designed to foster a more inclusive and prosperous community in Kebribeyah town in the Somali region of Ethiopia.
Participants raised concerns about budget constraints and resource shortages that hinder the provision of services to refugee communities. Gaps in humanitarian assistance were also highlighted, along with the limited capacity of government institutions in Kebribeyah to effectively implement the Inclusion Plan.
The event concluded with a renewed commitment from stakeholders to collaborate effectively in addressing the multifaceted challenges exacerbating protection risks of refugees and asylum seekers in the three refugee camps.
Enguday Meskele, Director of the Department of the Rights of Refugees, IDPs and Migrants at EHRC reaffirmed EHRC’s commitment to collaborate with stakeholders and advocate for the rights and well-being of refugees and asylum seekers.
