Migrant. Fleeing. The IN THIS ISSUE. South Sudan war

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1 The Migrant.. Volume 6 Issue 2 March 2014 IOM Special Liaison Office, Addis Ababa Newsletter Fleeing South Sudan war IN THIS ISSUE IOM Community Conversation reaches grassroots members in Ethiopia IOM and St. Peters TB Specialized Hospital commemorate World TB Day A story of an Ethiopian returnee from KSA

2 The Migrant News Community Conversations Target Irregular Migration from Ethiopia MARCH 30 - WOLDIA, N. WOLLO - The recent mass expulsion of over 150,000 irregular Ethiopian migrants from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia highlighted the human challenges posed by people smuggling in the Horn of Africa. The Ethiopian Government now recognizes the need to improve public awareness of the risks associated with irregular migration and is taking action to remedy the problem. To complement the government s efforts, IOM Ethiopia, in partnership with the government and civil society, has launched an initiative to engage Ethiopians through community conversations. These are intended to create a forum through which communities can discuss local alternatives to migration and ways to combat irregular migration. In the coming two months, IOM plans to train over 800 community conversation facilitators. They will include religious and community leaders and representatives of vulnerable groups, including the elderly and women. When trained, the facilitators will engage their communities to discuss irregular migration and will report on community initiatives to ensure that the information reaches policy makers at regional and federal levels. The project aims to reach some 350 community groups in kebeles (districts) in five high risk migration regions, including Oromia, Tigray, Amhara, SNNPR National Regional States and Addis Ababa City Administration. IOM Ethiopia is also actively engaged in sensitizing the public through other channels, including national and regional workshops, radio programmes and touring theatre shows with tailored messages for specific groups. In January IOM presented a popular touring theatre show entitled Mutach in rural areas traditionally associated with irregular migration. Editorial SLO Addis Communication Group Editor/Designer: Alemayehu Seifeselassie Copy editor: Alistair Bremnath/ Yuko Tomita International Organization for Migration Special Liaison Office (SLO) in Addis Ababa P.O.Box Code 1000 Addis Ababa Tel /98 Fax iomaddis@iom.int The IOM Mission IOM is committed to the principle that humane and orderly migration benefits migrants and society. As the leading international organization for migration, IOM acts with partners in the international community to: Assist in meeting the growing operational challenges of migration management Advance understanding of migration issues Encourage social and economic development 2

3 Volume 6 Issue 2. March 2014 IOM and St. Peters TB Specialized Hospital commemorate World TB Day by hosting a TB awareness walk in Addis Ababa Members of the Police Force Marching band leading the 3km TB awareness walk St Peter s TB Specialized Hospital and IOM organized a 3km Anti TB (tuberculoses) walk to celebrate World TB day in Addis Ababa on the 22nd March The walk, which intended to increase public awareness about TB, called for active community engagement in the fight against the disease in Ethiopia. The 3km walk started from the Sidist Kilo Addis Ababa University main gate and reached St. Peters TB Specialized Hospital engaging hundreds of participants. Among the participants of the mass walk, school children, members of community associations, women groups, members of the police force, IOM and St. Peter s TB Specialized Hospital staff members were found. In her opening remarks, the International Migration Health Physician for IOM in Ethiopia, Dr. R. V. Rama Jayavanth, stressed the importance of joining the global efforts to find, treat and cure the people suffering from tuberculosis. Every year, nine million people get sick with TB, but three million are missed by health systems around the world. Many of these three million people live in the world s poorest, most vulnerable communities and include groups such as migrants, refugees, drug users and others. On this day, IOM joins the international community in calling for a renewed focus on reaching these missing three million, she said. The St. Peter s TB Specialized Hospital appreciated IOM s support in organizing the event and stressed that the working relation with IOM will be strengthened in the future as well. Dr. R. V. Rama Jayavanth on her part added that IOM, through the TB REACH project, has invested in setting up new diagnostic technologies and assisted to design the National TB Control Program of the Ethiopian Federal Ministry of Health in order to increase detection of TB, multi-drug resistant TB and detection of TB among HIV co-infected migrants, refugees and the host population using an innovative rapid testing technology. At the end of the walk, the Addis Ababa Children and Youth Theatre group presented a musical drama on TB prevention. The participants of the walk were awarded with a certificate of participation. The event was concluded with the Addis Ababa Police marching band playing the Ethiopian National anthem. It is to be recalled that St. Peter s TB Specialized Hospital celebrated its 50th Anniversary last year. IOM Conducts fire evacuation exercise at the main compound On 27 March, 2014, IOM SLO Addis Ababa conducted a fire evacuation exercise at the main compound. Following a message, which was sent by IOM s Security Assistant Sileshi Mekonnen, the fire evacuation exercise was initiated when the bell at the compound rang at 10 A.M. The bell was a warning to tell staff members, visitors and dependents at the compound to proceed to the temporally assembly point located at the front part of the building. Once assembled, assigned fire wardens were requested to make sure everyone had evacuated and no one was left behind. The staff members were then briefed on the actions they need to take when a fire occurs and how it should be put out. A demonstration on how to use a fire extinguisher was also conducted. Following the fire extinguisher demonstration exercise, first aid training was also carried out by Dr. Niyat Tadesse from IOM s Medical Health Unit. During the exercise, it was told that evacuation is an immediate safety measure after an incident of fire, explosion, bomb threat, flood, toxic fumes, and electrical failure occurs. It was also briefed that team members are responsible in assisting staff members to evacuate the building properly and assemble safely at the designated assembly point. Building evacuation team members is comprised of one fire warden, two deputy 3

4 The Migrant News fire wardens and two fire searchers. During the exercise, Mr Teshome Araresso, Fire Expert from Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) explained to IOM staff members that even if a fire alarm is meant to inform people to leave in an orderly fashion, sometimes during fire incidents, there may be disorder or confusion among the staff on how to escape. Since fire and smoke travel quickly, sometimes one may have only minutes to escape. It is highly essential that each staff member knows what to do automatically in case of any fire incident. In the event of a fire alarm failure, staff are immediately informed by the fire warden. In addition to the exercise, a document containing the building plan and procedures for IOM main-office Addis Ababa, which outlines methods and procedures to be used in the event of a fire within the IOM premises, was also distributed for further reference. Living the opal dream MARCH 24 - ADDIS ABABA - When Nigist Gidey, 36, went to Switzerland two years ago, she thought that she would make it big in Europe after living as asylum seeker for a year and five months. However, life has not brought much fruit for her in Europe. Falling sick with a swollen lung infection and living with no proper documentation was not something she has anticipated when she left Ethiopia. After she was convinced by her husband, Mirutse Meresa, that she needed to return to Ethiopia, her once gloomy future began to brighten up with dazzling opal colours. Nigist and her husband Mirutse s now own a unique opal processing and export business that has been embraced by IOM s Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration programme and financed by the Swiss government and Cantonal donor. She was feeling sick and she was in Switzerland. The doctors there told her that she needs to get treated there. I suggested that she came back home for the treatment and start a new life in Ethiopia instead. Her husband Mirutse states how he managed to convince her after a year and five months away from Ethiopia. The couple set up the Nigist Gidey Gem Export business upon Nigists return to Ethiopia. Nigist Gidey and her husband, Mirutse Meresa looking at export standard opal gem at their workshop in Addis Ababa CMC Brought up in a family of traditional gem hunters, Mirutse has had a first hand experience of dealing with precious stones since childhood. The stones have medical healing power, if they are boiled and the water is consumed, he explains the traditional uses of opal known in Axum. Nigist and her husband teamed up and took that experience one step further by setting up of their new opal processing centre in Addis Ababa. After buying the pieces from suppliers that bring the rough gem from the naturally rich Wollo Delanta area (north of Ethiopia), the two now process opal pieces and export it to clients in Europe, China and India. The raw opal itself costing ,000 birr (~25-1,000USD) per-gram has posed a challenge for the enthusiastic entrepreneurs to purchase. Such a challenge has made it difficult for them to acquire the pieces. As the two are striving to make the opal dream a reality, IOM has stepped in and started providing the financial assistance needed to purchase the rough opals. With enthusiastic entrepreneurship and due diligence, the two have mastered the processing of gems at their small workshop in the CMC area of Addis Ababa. Within a few months of the start up of their business, they have seen the potential of the international market and are hopeful that they will make it big. 4

5 Volume 6 Issue 2. March 2014 UK Ambassador visits IOM s project in Benishangul-Gumuz Region On March 12, 2014, the UK Ambassador to Ethiopia and Permanent Representative to the African Union and Economic Commission for Africa, H.E. Ambassador Greg Dorey and His Excellency s wife, Mrs. Alison Dorey visited IOM s DDR (Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration) project - Technical Assistance to the Government of Ethiopia: Reception, Reinsertion, Reintegration and Post Reinsertion Transportation Assistance for BPLM Former Combatants and BPLM Sympathizers. The Project - which aims to return, reinsert and reintegrate 1,800 former combatants and their sympathizers - is funded by the European Union represented by the European Commission through the Instrument for Stability (IfS) and the African Conflict Prevention Pool (ACPP), the UK Government. The Emergency and Post Crises Unit project manager, Mr Cornelius Weira, made a PowerPoint presentation of IOM projects and programs for the visiting delegation, with particular emphasis on the DDR project. After IOM s presentation, one of the delegates and IOM staff met the regional counterpart on the DDR project where experiences and challenges were shared. Subsequently, the Ambassador together with IOM and his delegation visited the micro and small businesses established by Former Combatants (FCs) in Assosa and Menge, with the support of the Regional Government and IOM. One of the businesses visited by the Ambassador is a consumer shop owned and run by a group of five former combatants in Assosa district of the Region. The shop mainly supplies the local community with items that are in limited supply, including sanitation materials, snacks and refreshments. The group received in-kind support from this project, including stocks of consumer items, rental, training and business registration. Another FC, who has independently established another consumers shop, expressed her gratitude to IOM and donors for their continued support. She told the delegates that increasing rent was one of the major challenges in running the shop. In addition, she also mentioned that she feels empowered as she owns and runs the shop by herself. Following the Peace Agreement signed in August 2012 between the Federal H.E. Ambassador Greg Dorey and His Excellency s wife, Mrs. Alison Dorey visiting consumer shop owned and run by a group of five former combatants in Assosa, Benishangul-Gumuz Government of Ethiopia, the Benishangul- Gumuz Regional State (BGRS) and the Benishangul People s Liberation Movement (BPLM), the Benshangul-Gumuz Region has witnessed an unprecedented level of optimism that Sudan s Blue Nile State based BPLM rebellion against the Ethiopian Government may finally be drawing to a close, after almost 17 years of armed rebellion. So far, 379 FCs have been supported to return to their places of origin within Benishangul-Gumuz Region. Furthermore, 353 FCs have been supported to established micro and small business in the area of agriculture, mining and trade at the individual and cooperative level. IOM signs a project implementation agreement with the Federal Police Commission and the Amhara National Regional State The International Organization for Migration (IOM) signed a project implementation agreement to set up an Emergency Migration Response Centre (EMRC) with the Federal Police Commission and the Amhara National Regional State on 18 March The agreement was signed by the IOM SLO Chief of Mission and Representative to the AU/ECA/IGAD, Mr Josiah Ogina, Deputy Commissioner General from the Federal Police Commission, Mr Mesfin Abebe and the Head of Bureau of Labour and Social Affairs at the Amhara National Regional State, Mrs. Tiliksew Yitayal. The agreement states that IOM, the Federal Police Commission and the Amhara National Regional State have committed themselves to work together to establish EMRC and provide life saving assistance to intercepted and abandoned migrants at the Ethiopia- Sudan border. The EMRC project will be directly implemented in the Metema town, Amhara Region from April 1st 2014 to September 31st 2014 in accordance with the budget. Through the partnership agreement, IOM has taken the responsibility to work with the Federal Police Commission and other stakeholders to mobilize resources and find ways of sustaining the services rendered at the EMRC in the longer term. IOM also agreed to initially allocate funds in the amount of ETB 528,460 Birr to support the Federal Police Commission in the setup of an EMRC. IOM s financial support will be implemented for the purchase of EMRC materials, training of staff and to cover the costs of food and transportation as well as the medicine expenses of vulnerable migrants. IOM in collaboration with the Federal Police Commission will ensure the formation of EMRC management committee composed of Amhara Region Government Office, local community based organization, Non-Governmental Organizations and North-West police command personnel. The trainings will raise awareness on the orientation on humane and safe handling of migrants, safe transportation and provision of emergency medical assistance to intercepted and abandoned migrants. The Federal Police Commission on its part agreed to construct the EMRC in Metema town, in the land given to the Bureau of Labour and Social Affairs of Amhara National Regional State and made available for the provision of a safe temporary/transit shelter and other services to vulnerable migrants by the end of 30 April The Federal Police Commission also agreed to allocate funds in the amount of ETB 106,000 and provide trucks for the transportation of construction materials to construct the EMRC at Metema, Ethiopia, by the Sudan border. The Federal Police Commission said that it will continue to lead the coordination in the rescue of abandoned and/or intercepted migrants in Metema remote areas (Ethiopia- Sudan migratory corridor) and facilitate transport assistance to return intercepted and vulnerable migrants to their areas of origin. The Amhara National Regional State agreed to provide the land for the construction of the EMRC in Metema town by mid-march 2014 and to mobilize the construction materials for the centre. The Regional State also agreed to assist the Federal Police Commission in constructing the EMRC, by assigning staff that follow the construction of the centre and mobilization of locally available materials and daily labourers. The Metema town by the Ethiopia-Sudan border is believed to be used by smugglers and traffickers where every year, thousands of Ethiopian migrants and Eritrean refugees cross the border. 3 5

6 6 The Migrant News AU names Year 2014 Year of Agriculture and Food Security in Africa The 24th Ordinary Session of the Executive Council of the African Union (AU) took place from 27 to 28 January 2014 under the theme Year of Agriculture and Food Security in Africa at the The 22nd Ordinary Session of the African Union (AU) Summit which was held on 30 to 31 January 2014 at the AU Headquarters elected the President of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, H.E. Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz as a new Chairperson of the African Union for 2014, replacing H.E. Hailemariam Desalegn, Prime Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia. The IOM delegation was led by DG William Lacy Swing at the Summit. The Assembly, under the new leadership of President Abdel Aziz, adopted the decision to set a common African position on the Post 2015 Development Agenda. The Assembly requested the high level committee - formed to sensitize and coordinate the activities of African leaders and members of the High Level Panel and to build regional and inter-continental alliances on the Common African Position on the post 2015 Development Agenda - to meet as soon as possible to launch the Common African Position in Ndjamena, Chad. In regard to Africa s strategic partnership, the Assembly accepted the offer made by the Republic of Cameroon to host the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) Ministerial Meeting in May 2014 and welcomed the adoption of the principle of rotation in hosting the TICAD V African Union Headquarters, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The Session was conducted in the context of the 22nd Summit of the AU where it deliberated on the different reports of the ministerial meetings organized by the African Union Commission (AUC) during the last six AU elects President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz Chairperson for 2014 follow up mechanisms, including the summit. In addition, it requested the Chairperson of the Commission to undertake consultations with Member States of the African Union with a view to identifying the host for TICAD VI Summit to be held in Africa in months prior to the session. The Ministers of External Affairs and other ministers and authorities designated by the governments of AU Member States considered the activity report of the Commission; the recommendations of the Permanent Representatives Committee (PRC) on the implementation of previous Decisions of the Executive Council and the Assembly; and the report of the ministerial committee on candidatures. In the same vein, the Assembly endorsed the Kuwait Declaration which underlines the need to enhance all forms of cooperation between African and Arab states along with the Eight Resolutions adopted by the 3rd Africa-Arab Summit. The Assembly also emphasised on the need to work on boosting intra-african trade, industrial development and economic integration as they are the most viable means for African countries to achieve structural transformation and sustainable development. While discussing the report of the high level African Trade Committee on Trade Issues, the Assembly urged member states and regional economic communities (RECs) to carefully consider the impact of the negotiations of bilateral and multilateral trade agreements on the African integration agenda, so that they do not compromise the African trade integration process and undermine the vision and scope of the Abuja Treaty. It also mandated the Ministers of Trade to hold an extra ordinary session to consider and adopt a work plan, negotiating modalities and principles towards the effective launch of the Continental Free Trade Area (CFTA) negotiations in AIR project sensitization workshop held in Senegal and Dar es Salaam The International Organization for Migration (IOM) in collaboration with the World Bank and other project partners organized forums on Sensitization of the African Institute for Remittances (AIR) Project and the remittances price database Send Money Africa (SMA) on March 3rd and 7th 2014 in Dakar, Senegal and Dar Es Salaam, the United Republic of Tanzania respectively. The main objectives of the forums were to discuss the challenges and opportunities for development related to the current market situation for African remittances; to inform the prospective role of the African Institute for Remittances (AIR) and recent developments in the process for its creation. The forum also discussed the need to sensitize the audience to the nature of the services and activities to be eventually provided by AIR. Generating interest amongst the public sector agencies represented in the audience and to introduce the remittances price database Send Money Africa, which is one of the products funded under the AIR project, were among the issues discussed. Presentations, namely Existing Situation, Opportunities and Challenges of African Remittances; AIR and its Activities and Services; AIR Activities from the Diaspora Perspective and the demonstrations on SMA database were made by panellists and the forums were concluded after substantive discussion by participants on the different issues raised. IOM was represented by SLO Addis s Chief of Mission and special representative to AU/ECA/ IGAD, Senior Labour Migration Specialists from Head Quarters and Pretoria Regional Office as well as respective chief of missions in Dakar and Dar Es Salaam.

7 IOM Forum Theatre tours in rural villages in Ethiopia IOM Forum Theatre in session at Arsi- Ethiopia JANUARY 25 - ARSI, OROMIA - IOM s Forum Theatre entitled Mutach started its tour on January 14, 2014 to rural villages known as areas of origin for many Ethiopian irregular migrants. As the numbers of Ethiopian returnees from Kingdom of Saudi Arabia have reached over 153,000, the show is at its critical juncture. The two zones chosen by the Government to host the show are Wollo and Jima. Staged in the local languages in Amhara, Oromia and Tigray regions, Mutach aimed to educate the community about irregular migration through participatory and friendly approach. A story of an Ethiopian returnee from KSA JANUARY 25 - ARSI, OROMIA - Zeyituna Haji, a 20 year old slim, light skinned, shy girl was born in Hamsa-Gasha village, Tiyo Woreda, Arsi Zone, Oromiya Region. She is the 7th daughter of her family. She dropped out of school two years ago from grade 9 as she planned to go to the Middle East /Saudi Arabia to work as a domestic worker. It was her elder sister who primarily initiated and facilitated her trip to Saudi Arabia by convincing her and the family as a whole. Zeyituna stated that she had no intention to go to the Middle East, but to continue her education. However, her sister who used to live in Addis Ababa visited the family to convince her parents and Zeyituna. Zeyituna was reluctant to accept the offer since she had some information on what has been happening to Ethiopians working as domestic workers in the Middle East and Gulf States, but her sister insisted that those who failed are those who chose to travel through illegal means and convinced her that hers will be through the Private Employment Agencies (PEAs). She also tried to persuade her by telling her that she will earn more than 3,000 ETB per month and if she is not comfortable, the agency can help return her back immediately. She also pressured her that going to Saudi Arabia would assist herself and her family just like other neighbourhood girls who have gone to the Middle East. Zeyituna and her family agreed to the request and Zeyituna had to drop out of school to prepare for her travel. She went to Addis Ababa with her sister to start the preparation. It was her sister who made all communications on her behalf; including the agreement with PEAs. In a month or so, she received her visa for Saudi Arabia through a private employment agency. She was told that her destination would be in Riyadh and that she would be working for the Kefil. Since she had no prior experience of travelling to anywhere 1,500 audiences attended the opening of the show in Jima Zone. Among the audience were the local youth and adults as well as government regional administrators and city mayors. The show which attracted the locals with musical entertainment was followed by the Mutach educational theatre which left an impression to the audience. After the show, regional administrators highlighted the negative impacts of irregular migration. Speaking at the event, the Mayor of Sheki town, Jima Zone, Oromia Region, Mr. Shemsu AbaTemam and the Jima Zone Labour and Socials Affairs Head Administrator, Mr. Medina Huseien stated the hardship and challenges irregular migrants often encounter, including mugging, physical abuse, rape and being held for ransom. The administrators highlighted that it would be best to work inside one s own country and improve oneself, rather than choosing irregular migration. The show continued at a market place on Mole town in Jima, where an audience of 2,500 attended the show. As the issue of irregular migration has outside of her village, she was confused at her arrival in Riyadh. She has been told that on her arrival at the airport, the Kefil, which means the agency representative, would come and take her to her final destination. However the reality was that she had to wait in the airport reception centre for 5 days. Finally, the Kefil came and took her to his family which was 500 kms far from Riyadh. 500 kms away from Riyadh was not the biggest concern for Zeyituna as she found herself with a big family living in one compound. She worked eighteen to twenty hours per day without rest and adequate food. As time passed, Zeyituna s health deteriorated but the family in charge did not respond for her appeal for medication. Zeyituna called her sister and told her all the things that had happened to her. Her sister called the PEA in Ethiopia which was responsible to facilitate Zeyituna s travel and who had then promised that she will receive medical treatment soon. However, the representative of the PEA here in Ethiopia, instead of keeping the promise he had made to Zeyituna s sister, called the Kefil and told them not to give Zeyituna telephone access to call Ethiopia. Things eventually escalated and Zeyituna started to rebel and quarrelled with the family. The family beat and confined her in one room for 4 days but she managed to escape in the evening and went out on the street. After a tiresome journey, she met one passer-by who finally took her to a police station. The police called the Kefil and ordered him to give her payments, take her to the Ethiopian Embassy and arrange her travel back to Ethiopia. Unfortunately, the Kefil, instead, took her to his family home where she used to work prior to her escape. Zeyituna continued her rebellion and insisted she be returned home despite the family continuing their physical and emotional abuse. When they have come Volume 6 Issue 2. March 2014 received national attention, IOM organized Mutach to give the much needed forum for local communities to discourse on irregular migration and devise home-grown solutions to rectify the problem. As the number of Ethiopian migrants coming back from Saudi Arabia is over 153,000; local authorities in the places of origin are encouraging the returnees to share testimonies to communities on the effects of irregular migration. Despite the call for personal testimonies, unfortunately the returnees were not enthusiastic to share their experience in public. Mutach was staged in the schools, openvillage markets, public gathering points and streets. IOM attracted more than 60,000 audiences in Amahara, Oromia and Tigray regions. The show continued until the 28th of January in the different regions which were identified by the Government as sources for irregular migration. The show was part of a project funded by the European Union with co-funding from Netherlands, Norway and Switzerland. to realize that she will continuously resist the family, they decided to release her. The Kefil then took her to Riyadh. He dropped her off near a building, misleading her into thinking that she is standing next to the Ethiopian embassy. When she realized that it was not the embassy but rather a private hotel, she blindly started to travel on the street. Luckily, she met an Ethiopian national who took her to Ethiopian community in Riyadh. Since she ran away from her employers/sponsors and had no legal, she was forced to fall under the category of irregular migrants. It was at this unfortunate period of her life that the recent mass expulsion of irregular migrants took place. Zeyituna was taken to the camp by security forces until the return was arranged. Finally, as part of the ongoing operation, she arrived in Ethiopia at the end of November Back home, Zeyituna has returned to her normal life with her family, she is now happy and has a bright future ahead of her. She is planning to start her education in the coming academic year. She is determined to teach and give testimony about the risks of irregular migration to youngsters and other community members in her vicinity. She has already started her determination by joining Arsi zone drama and theatre club in a recent awareness raising campaign on human trafficking and irregular migration; jointly organized by IOM and government counterparts. 7

8 8 The Migrant

9 Volume 6 Issue 2. March Fleeing South Sudan war There is not much to eat and drink on the road. We had to survive on wild tree fruits. The journey was painful, 25-year old Benson, a South Sudanese refugee from Malakal town remembers the agonizing trip he took to reach Pagak entry point, Gambella - Ethiopia. He also cannot help but wonder about his wife and two kids he had to leave behind in Nasir when he fled the chaos. He was transported by IOM to Kule Camp where he was provided food and shelter by UNHCR. This young man is one of the thousands of people that have made it across the South Sudanese border and transported to the camp by IOM. IOM Ethiopia has moved thousands of South Sudanese refugees from the South Sudan borders to camps inside Ethiopia since violence broke out between South Sudan s government and opposition forces in December As Ethiopia has kept its doors open, more and more South Sudanese asylum seekers are fleeing over the border from the war. Most of the refugees are women and children. Many have walked for seven to 10 days to reach the border, living on wild fruit, and are destitute. Many families have also been separated in the chaos. As the UNHCR Representative for Ethiopia, Mr. Moses Okello, informed a delegate of visitors in Gambella in mid-march, the situation is dire. Just like Benson, Ojulu Obutha, 36, a community leader in Akobo town in South Sudan, was separated from his wife and children when they crossed over to Akobo-Tergol on December 18th. He remained behind, hoping that the situation would calm down. But security deteriorated and he decided to follow them to Gambella. There was fighting in the Denaka area and when they (the rebels) came back, they started looting Akobo town... A friend and I were the last Agnuaks to leave, he says. He hopes to be reunited with his wife soon. When the fighting started, a lot of women crossed over to Akobo-Tergol on foot. I don t know where she is, but I hope that she is waiting for me in Fugnido, he said, after registering with IOM, a day before his relocation by boat.

10 10 The Migrant Volume 6 Issue 2 March Boat and bus relocations FEBRUARY 20 - AKOBO, GAMBELLA - IOM Ethiopia commenced the South Sudanese refugee relocation operation from Akobo-Tergol riverside (Gambella village) to Fugnido (Gambella Camp) on Thursday 20 February 2014 with 425 refugees being safely transported. 430 km to Fugnido refugee camp, on the first trip, refugees, who are all Agnuak, travelled on a nine hour 130km (64 nautical miles) boat trip from Tergol to Burbiey and stayed overnight. The next day, they were moved by IOM busses through Gambella town 180 km away and headed to Fugnido Camp 110Km from Gambella town. The total trip took two days to complete. This is the first time that IOM Ethiopia has relocated refugees using boats. The distance which took two days could have been shortened if the road from Tergol to Burbiey was finalized; cutting the nine hours boat trip to only a two hour 90 Kms drive. UNHCR initially registered 10,000 South Sudanese refugees at Akobo-Tergol village where South Sudan and Ethiopia share a border which is split by the Akobo River. As the conflict continued, the number of asylum seekers also continued to rise. UNHCR stated that the number could reach as high as 250,000. Using busses and boats, IOM has prioritized the movement of the most vulnerable and malnourished. At every entry point, IOM conducts predeparture medical check-ups and ensures the refugees fitness to travel. In Ethiopia s Gambella province, IOM boats have moved up to 450 people a day from Akobo-Tergol. Road convoys have moved up to another 2,000 people a day from Pagak. Destinations include Fugnido, Leitchor and Kule (former Tierkidi) refugee camps, where the refugees are provided with shelter and food. Camps such as Kule were hosting over their capacity in mid-march and therefore had to be expanded to keep up with the exodus. This is the first time that IOM Ethiopia has relocated refugees using boats. The distance which took two days could have been shortened if the road from Tergol to Burbiey was finalized; cutting the nine hours boat trip to only a two hour 90 Kms drive.

11 +++ Delegates in Ethiopia visit the IOM transportation assistance at Pagak Gambella MARCH 18 - GAMBELLA - As part of the launch of the Inter-Agency Appeal, UNHCR invited representatives from donor community in Addis Ababa, the head of agencies from UNICEF, WFP and IOM as well as several NGOs to visit the major South Sudanese asylum seekers entry point in Pagak, Gambella, on Tuesday 18 March. Visiting the asylum seekers, the delegates witnessed the IOM registration and transportation assistance to the refugee camps in Gambella. The delegates also visited the Kule Refugee Camp and talked to the asylum seekers. Composed of Ambassadors and diplomats based in Addis Ababa, the delegates were escorted by the Administration for Refugee and Returnee Affairs (ARRA) Deputy Head, Mr. Ayalew Aweke representing the Government of Ethiopia and the UNHCR Representative, Mr. Moses Okello. During the visit, the delegates were briefed by Mr. Ayalew on how the Region is known for hosting 400,000 asylum seekers and will continue to host the new influx. He also stated that despite the sudden influx, the international community has responded timely and the presence of the delegates was a testament to that. According to him, one of the factors which might increase the number of asylum seekers might be the assistance provided in Ethiopia as opposed to in South Sudan. As the prior may have a pull factor, he urged UN agencies to consider providing assistance within South Sudan before entering the rainy season in mid-april, making accessibility difficult. Mr. Ayalew also said that as the camps are filling up quickly, setting up additional refugee camps in the region would be essential at the moment. Mr. Moses Okello on his part stated that UNHCR is making the necessary adjustment to ease the difficult situation at the major entry point (Pagak). The accelerated relocation of malnourished children to Kule Refugee Camp is among the steps taken to alleviate the problem. Since 1 March 2014, IOM has moved 1,600 children identified with severe acute malnutrition and their families through the accelerated relocation mission from entry point Pagak to Kule Refugee Camp to ease the problem. The IOM SLO Chief of Mission and Representative to the AU/ECA/IGAD, Mr. Josiah Ogina, highlighted the challenges faced while transporting asylum seekers from the Akobo- Tergol area to Burbiey docking station by boat. Among the challenges, he explained to the delegates that the fishnets, the water hyacinth in the river and the lack of available reliable boats have further complicated the already challenging operation and had impacted reaching the intended target of relocating 1,000 asylum seekers per day from Akobo. Currently, there are over 10,000 asylum seekers awaiting relocation at Akobo. IOM is currently moving 500 asylum seekers everyday from Akobo- Tergol entry point via Burbiey to Leitchor Camp. The two major entry points in Gambella Region are Pagak and Akobo. In Pagak, 43,153 asylum seekers have been registered, comprising of 57 percent of total entries. Whereas in Akobo, 25,951 entries have been registered, comprising of 34 percent of the total. Akobo is only accessible by boat (nearly 10 hours) and is 175 km away from the nearest road access. IOM is handling the transportation from the two entry points to the camps in Gambella Region, mainly to Leitchor, Kule and Fugnido refugee camps. During the month of March 2014 alone, over 25,000 South Sudanese asylum seekers have been relocated from the reception centres to the refugee camps in Gambella, Ethiopia by IOM busses and boats. This makes the total number of asylum seekers transported by IOM to more than 41,649 since January The cumulative number of new arrivals since December 2013 is more than 75,000, with indications of more new arrivals to come. It is estimated that over 140,000 asylum seekers might be coming from South Sudan to Ethiopia by the end of 2014.

12 The Migrant Volume 6 Issue 2 During the month of March 2014 alone, over 25,000 South Sudanese asylum seekers have been relocated from the reception centres to the refugee camps in Gambella, Ethiopia by IOM busses and boats. THANK YOU TO OUR DONORS AND PARTNERS International Organization for Migration Special Liaison Office (SLO) in Addis Ababa P.O.Box Code 1000 Addis Ababa Tel /98, Fax , iomaddis@iom.int