The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) said that the region is in need of immediate humanitarian assistance as member states are hosting a high number of refugees.
IGAD Coordinator of Strengthening Migration Policy Implementation, Yemisrach Benalfew told ENA that the IGAD region hosts roughly 4.5 million refugees and asylum seekers, along with around 12 million Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).
This migration and displacement issues is exacerbating the situation in the horn of Africa as the IGAD region has been facing unprecedented challenges due to persistent and prolonged drought, marked by five consecutive below average rainfall seasons, the coordinator noted.
Currently, the IGAD member countries like Ethiopia, Uganda, Sudan and among others host the highest refugees, according to Yemisrach.
“The issue of migration and displacement is quite high on the agenda of IGAD. We have currently millions of refugees and IDPs. And this continues to increase. So we have immediate humanitarian needs, as well as finding solutions,” she indicated.
As the issue of migration and displacement is quite high on the agenda of IGAD, the coordinator recalled that the member states have endorsed the regional policy framework.
In March 2017, IGAD endorsed this policy framework for a durable solution for Somali refugees as well as returnees and host communities, which later was expanded to address all the displacement in the region.
To this end, the framework provides a regional platform for countries to commit themselves to find a solution for the citizens but also for the refugees that they’re hosting, Yemisrach revealed.
The coordinator stressed that immediate humanitarian assistance is urgently needed for the ever increasing number of refugees and internally displaced persons that have been worsened by many factors.
“While you have the immediate humanitarian needs, we also look at solutions and governments are the principal actors that must find solutions. The solution looks at education, livelihood and health. So these are thematic engagements that we work with our member states,” she noted.
Yemisrach added that IGAD is also advocating for enabling the environment by putting in place legal and policy environments.
Speaking on Ethiopia’s role in hosting quite a number of refugees, she underscored that the country has made certain commitments at global, national and regional levels.
This year alone, Ethiopia has received more than 110,000 refugees from Somalia and Sudan displaced by conflict, she said, adding the country is providing the necessary humanitarian support in accordance with international principles, it was indicated.
She added that Ethiopia has also the national coordination mechanism which is a very comprehensive and holistic to deal with migration.
Source: Ethiopian News Agency