20 June was World Refugee Day. I spent it with fellow Ambassadors, government officials, colleagues from international organisations, NGOs and religious leaders at Maiaini Refugee Camp in Tigray Region – a trip organised by the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the Ethiopian Government’s refugee agency ARRA. The camp is home to about 15,000 out of a total of 60,000 Eritrean refugees in Ethiopia currently.
The Government has been extremely generous in keeping its borders open to refugees, both in accordance with international refugee law, but also in the spirit of humanity. Last year the number of refugees in Ethiopia doubled from 150,000 plus to well over 300,000: there are now 350,000 in the country. Most were from Somali but there were plenty from Sudan and Eritrea. We hope in time that all of them can return home in safety and dignity. And we admire and support the work of the Government, UNHCR and partners in providing protection and assistance for refugees.
During the Somali crisis in 2011, the UK provided nutrition, water and shelter to over 100,000 refugees. And we will continue to support refugees in Ethiopia. Our visit to Maiani was a very moving experience and one that convinced me (if I needed it) that we are doing the right thing. Even one refugee is too many; one refugee without hope is too many; one refugee without education is too many; one family torn apart by war is too many.
The inhabitants of the camp put on a good show for us – celebrations, speeches, tree plantings and a talent show. But what really stood out for me was the growing number of unaccompanied children in the camp – the numbers in this category have soared so that now children under 18 constitute some 22% of the camp population and the proportion is growing. We hope that other donors will help to give hope for the future to these children.
