The Ethiopian Human Rights Commission is encouraged by recent announcements by the Agency for Refugees and Returnees Affairs (ARRA) to widen the assisted urban refugee status to some Eritrean refugees residing in Mai Ayni and Adi Harush camps. The implementation of this plan will reduce the risk to safety of and access to humanitarian assistance to refugees associated with the conflict in Tigray. It is also a positive step towards enforcing the commitment the country has made to gradually move out of the encampment policy.

EHRC calls on UNHCR, international and national organizations and donors to support the implementation of the plan.