Humanitarian Support Being Provided by Gov’t, People Enable Us to Lead Secure Life, Say Refuges

Addis Ababa, December 10/2023(ENA) The refugees from neighboring who sheltered at Dabat Alem Wach site said that the humanitarian support that the Ethiopian government and people are providing enabled them to lead secure life.

The refugees held a program at the shelter recently to recognize and appreciate the communities of Dabat and the surrounding area for the humanitarian support they provided to them over the last four months.

On the occasion, representative of the refugees, Solomon Tesfamariam said the support and care given to them by the Ethiopian government and the people in the Dabat surrounding area over the past four months during which the international organizations suspended aid support will be remembered in history.

The government and people of Ethiopia have demonstrated their deep social values of brotherhood and compassion by providing food items and other humanitarian assistance to the refugees at the shelter, he added.

Fiwari Equbay who live at the shelter on said “Ever since I fled from my country, Eritrea, the support being provided to me by the local communities has made me to feel that Ethiopia just like my country.”

“The community's help and care for refugees has assured us to live safe a life,” she said, adding during the suspension of international aid, the communities provided us special assistance and care to us and our children.

Yodit Atsaba who is also a refugee said the love and compassion the local communities have showed to the refugees forge brotherhood and consistence.

Yayesh Mamo, who is a resident of Dabat town, on her part said responding to the humanitarian needs of refugees is strengthening our social interaction.

The representative of North Gondar Zone Administration, Asmare Abera on his part said relentless efforts have been made by engaging the community to ensure that the rights of refugees are respected and they live secure lives.

He added the zone has provided 90 hectares of land for refugee shelter in Dabat town and supported them to live in secure condition. 

To further foster the relationship between the refugees and the local community, the refugees are given access to health and education services, he elaborated.

Coordinator of Dabat Alem Wach Refugees Camp, at Refugee and Returnee Service (RRS), Tamirat Demisse said that there are more than 20,000 refugees from neighboring countries at the shelter.

He recalled the humanitarian assistance which had been had been cut off for the refugees over past four months has resumed.

Ethiopia is one of the largest refugee-hosting countries in Africa by sheltering hundreds of thousands refugees.