Ethiopia, strategically located in the Horn of Africa, is a prominent destination for migrants, particularly those fleeing conflict from elsewhere in East Africa and the Horn. With more than 966,200 refugees and asylum-seekers, Ethiopia hosts the second-largest refugee population in Africa.
Map of Ethiopia showing regions
This article aims to shed light on the past and current migration landscape in Ethiopia by discussing the complex movement of people from, through, and to the country. It explores different approaches for using global data to assess refugee flood risk in refugee camps in Ethiopia. Researchers have observed that colonial ties play an important role in shaping patterns of migration out of Africa, with the vast majority of emigrants tending to settle in countries with colonial and linguistic ties.
Migration Patterns in Ethiopia
Socioeconomic, environmental, and political crises in Ethiopia over the last 50 years have led to a major migration of people, both internally and across borders. Notably, large-scale international emigration from Ethiopia has tended to occur during periods of political repression and changes of government.
There have been at least three distinct waves:
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- Before the 1974 revolution, when small numbers of elites migrated to Western countries to obtain training and higher education.
- Under the military government and during the Qey Shibir (“Red Terror”) from 1974 to 1991.
- In the post-Derg period, during which large numbers of refugees returned to Ethiopia and yet intermittent ethnic violence, political repression, and the lure of economic opportunity prompted more departures.
In recent years, emigration has risen dramatically from Ethiopia, and the country is also a central hub for migrants traveling across the Horn of Africa.
Ethiopian migrants in the Middle East
Refugee Camps in Ethiopia
Ethiopia has an advanced regime for the protection of forced migrants and hosts approximately 789,000 refugees, most of them residing in 24 camps across the country. Due to increasing arrivals, the number of refugee camps in Ethiopia grew from eight in 2009 to 26 by 2014.
Ethiopia hosts over 870 000 refugees from Sudan, South Sudan, Eritrea, and Somalia, most of whom (90 percent) live in refugee camps.
As of today, there are over 82 million people forced out of their homes due to persecution, conflict, or violence (UNHCR 2021). Almost 86% of those forcefully displaced populations are currently living in different countries in the Global South, and in most cases, they are in the neighboring nations (UNHCR 2021).
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Aw-Barre Refugee Camp
Aw-barre Refugee camp is located in the Fafan Zone of the Somali Region of Ethiopia. As of November 2020, the population of Aw-barre Refugee Camp amounted to 11,523 individuals, with an additional 1,868 households. The camp is predominantly inhabited by the Gadabuursi sub-clan, which belongs to the Dir clan family. As of November 2020, the camp had 11,604 refugees with 5,420 males and 6184 females.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) provides humanitarian assistance to the refugees and asylum seekers at Aw-barre Refugee Camp.
LIFE INSIDE A REFUGEE CAMP
Refugee Camp
Challenges Faced by Refugees
Education, employment opportunities and access to water are three major challenges refugees in Ethiopia face today. Safe access to clean water remains a serious issue for refugees in Ethiopia. In some areas, refugees walk all day to reach clean water.
Nearly one-third of Ethiopians who resided in countries of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) had more than a high school education as of 2015 and 2016. Although its humanitarian migrant numbers are a fraction of what they were in the 20th century, Ethiopia remains one of the continent’s largest countries of origin for refugees and asylum seekers, with an estimated 280,000 Ethiopians living in this status as of 2020.
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Flood Risk in Refugee Camps
Almost all refugee camps are exposed to flooding. Augmenting global data with local data on refugee camp populations, it is estimated that 23 out of 24 refugee camps are exposed to flooding of some degree, and between 143,208 (20 percent) and 182,125 (25 percent) refugees are exposed to a 1 percent annual exceedance probability flood (100-year return period flood). Four of the five most exposed camps are in the Gambela region, which is one of the most flood-prone regions in the country. The camps in Gambela are home to South Sudanese refugees, who are disproportionately more exposed to flooding than other refugees in Ethiopia.
Global population datasets, typically used in national flood risk assessments, chronically underestimate refugee camp populations in Ethiopia. In the 24 camps examined, global population datasets estimated, on average, only 27 percent of the refugee camp population reported by UNHCR. The authors conclude that global population datasets do a poor job at estimating refugee camp populations and should not be used in studies of refugee flood risk. The analysis demonstrates the benefits of combining local and global data for assessing refugee camp flood risk in Ethiopia.
Education for Refugees
Education is a top UNHCR priority in Ethiopia because nearly 56 percent of the refugee population is under the age of 18. UNHCR has partnered with local organizations to help enroll more refugee children in primary school.
Despite the UNHCR’s limited budget for education, strides have been made to increase the quality of education and school enrollment for refugees around the world. For example, the fourth goal in the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDG) prioritizes “Quality Education,” with the main target to create an inclusive educational opportunity to provide learning opportunities.
In 2018, 63% of refugees had access to primary school (UNHCR 2019a, b, c), compared with 93% of all children globally; at the secondary level, only 23% of refugees had access to education, whereas 84% did globally (United Nations 2020, p. 188). This stresses the need for more inclusive education, especially in countries with large refugee populations.
Comprehensive Refugee Response Framework (CRRF)
Ethiopia is one of the 15 pilot countries to implement the Comprehensive Refugee Response Framework (CRRF), a global shared commitment to improving the lives of refugees and host communities in a coordinated way. Its objectives are easing pressure on host countries, improving refugee self-reliance, expanding access to resettlement in third countries, and creating conditions in countries of origin for voluntary return. Ethiopia launched the CRRF in 2017 and has made considerable progress on registration of refugees and including them in basic services such as education and health care, as well as improving legal regimes.
Local integration provides the chance for refugees to live a dignified life while building a better future. On January 17, 2019, Ethiopia passed a new law that allows refugees to obtain work permits and other legal documents. Refugees can now work legally, formally register births and marriages and access financial services such as bank accounts.
Key Statistics
The following table summarizes key statistics related to refugees in Ethiopia:
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Total Refugee Population | Over 966,200 |
| Largest Refugee Groups | South Sudan, Somalia, Eritrea |
| Refugees Living in Camps | 90% |
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