Representatives of Dev’t Partners, Officials and Staff of Refugees and Returnees Service Plant Seedlings

Addis Ababa, July 10, 2025 (ENA)— Representatives of the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), World Food Programme (WFP), Refugee Coordinator of Population, Refugees and Migration at the US Embassy as well as officials and staff members of the Refugees and Returnees Service have planted seedlings in Addis Ababa today.

Speaking on the occasion, UNHCR Assistant Representative for Protection in Ethiopia, David Karp, said it was his second opportunity to join the Green Legacy Initiative of planting seedlings in the country.

It is fantastic and enjoyable experience, he stated, emphasizing that the planting showcases unity and is part of response to the pledge made at Global Refugee Forum 2023 to plant trees.

Moreover, planting seedlings in the country is of paramount significance in addressing environmental damages due to hosting refugees in the country, the assistant representative noted.

In this respect, funding has been provided to support some of planting of seedlings in the camps all around the country, he revealed, expressing UNHCR’s commitment to continue working with the Government of Ethiopia to reduce environmental impacts caused by refugees.

On his part, World Food Programme Deputy Country Director Kevin Hodgson stated that his presence to plant seedlings was to demonstrate WFP’s support for the Green Legacy Initiative and to continue partnership with Refugees and Returnees Service.

According to him, the Green Legacy is really useful, enjoyable and hands-on initiative and such kind of natural solution is valuable in addressing climate change issues.

Hodgson reaffirmed WFP’s commitment to continue supporting this kind of planting seedling events.

Deputy Regional Refugee Coordinator of Population, Refugees and Migration at the US Embassy in Addis Ababa, Andrew Ellis, said that Ethiopia is moving more toward renewable energy sources and planting trees would be helpful not only for the country but also for Africa at large.

He noted that having more trees and more vegetation helps to mitigate the effects of fossil fuels and others, appreciating Ethiopia’s effort towards greening the environment under the Green Legacy Initiative.

Refugees and Returnees Service (RRS) Deputy Director-General, Mulualem Desta, said RRS has been engaging in planting seedlings as part of Green Legacy Initiative across the 26 refugee camps in the country.

The Green Legacy Initiative is of paramount importance to mitigate environmental impact caused by hosting refugees in the country, he added.

Besides, the RRS has been working to realize the government’s pledge made at the Second Global Refugee Forum 2023 to plant one hundred million seedlings around refugees hosting areas until 2027.

To realize its objectives, the service has been closely working with development partners, including UN agencies, diplomatic communities and civil society, he stated, noting that the  support of the development partners to the initiative has been encouraging.

In this regard, Mulualem announced that RRS plans to plant five million seedlings during this rainy season.