https://en.sputniknews.africa/20231022/igad-refugee-policy-to-play-key-role-in-mobilizing-international-support-unhcr-official-1063003176.html
IGAD Refugee Policy to Play Key Role in Mobilizing International Support: UNHCR Official
IGAD Refugee Policy to Play Key Role in Mobilizing International Support: UNHCR Official
Sputnik Africa
Earlier this week, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) held a three-day workshop in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to review and validate the... 22.10.2023, Sputnik Africa
2023-10-22T18:21+0200
2023-10-22T18:21+0200
2023-10-22T18:21+0200
sub-saharan africa
east africa
ethiopia
sudan
intergovernmental authority on development (igad)
united nations (un)
refugees
united nations high commissioner for refugees
crisis
humanitarian aid
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The recently ratified IGAD Refugee Protection and Management Policy will be crucial in garnering global support to alleviate the struggles of the region's refugees, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Senior Protection Coordinator Senay Terefe told an Ethiopian media outlet. The official stated that the policy aims to establish standardized guidelines for refugees seeking territorial asylum in the region, as well as promote a collaborative approach among the IGAD member states to address the current refugee crisis. According to the coordinator, the newly validated framework includes components that aim to consolidate an inclusive approach to policies regarding refugees, health, education, communication, and social sectors. He stressed that it aims to mobilize and galvanize international assistance for a substantial population of refugees in the area.The IGAD region, encompassing such countries as Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, and Uganda, is home to millions of forcibly displaced people due to a range of interrelated factors that compelled them to move. In August, the UN Refugee Agency revealed that the region currently hosts over 5 million registered refugees and asylum seekers. Additionally, there are more than 13.5 million internally displaced persons in the region as of July 2023. The coordinator noted that the IGAD region has the highest number of refugees in Africa, which is increasing at an alarming rate due to the ongoing crisis in Sudan.He explained that the regions in which refugee camps are situated tend to be less economically affluent than other areas of a host country. As a consequence, the pressure is felt at both the subnational and national levels. In this regard, the coordinator stressed the importance of IGAD using its political mandate to collectively address the alarming refugee trend in the region. He noted that UNHCR is collaborating with the IGAD member countries to secure essential supplies, address the funding gap in humanitarian aid, and overcome technical obstacles.Speaking about Ethiopia's role in resolving the refugee crisis in East Africa, he suggested that the country could set an example for other IGAD states by sharing practices in the areas of refugee protection and livelihood improvement. Ethiopia, which hosts nearly one million refugees, has implemented several initiatives to provide refugees with access to livelihood opportunities.
https://en.sputniknews.africa/20231021/implementation-of-kenyas-refugee-reform-plan-reportedly-delayed-due-to-lack-of-donor-funding-1062977665.html
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east africa, ethiopia, sudan, intergovernmental authority on development (igad), united nations (un), refugees, united nations high commissioner for refugees, crisis, humanitarian aid
east africa, ethiopia, sudan, intergovernmental authority on development (igad), united nations (un), refugees, united nations high commissioner for refugees, crisis, humanitarian aid
IGAD Refugee Policy to Play Key Role in Mobilizing International Support: UNHCR Official
Earlier this week, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) held a three-day workshop in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to review and validate the regional bloc's Policy Framework on Refugee Protection. The policy aims to provide a common mechanism for refugee management in the IGAD region, which encompasses eight countries in East Africa.
The recently ratified IGAD Refugee Protection and Management Policy will be crucial in garnering global support to alleviate the struggles of the region's refugees, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Senior Protection Coordinator Senay Terefe told an Ethiopian media outlet.
The official stated that the policy aims to establish standardized guidelines for refugees seeking territorial asylum in the region, as well as promote a
collaborative approach among the IGAD member states to address the current refugee crisis.
According to the coordinator, the newly validated framework includes components that aim to consolidate an inclusive approach to policies regarding refugees, health, education, communication, and social sectors. He stressed that it aims to mobilize and galvanize international assistance for a substantial population of refugees in the area.
The IGAD region, encompassing such countries as Djibouti,
Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, and Uganda, is home to millions of forcibly displaced people due to a range of interrelated factors that compelled them to move.
In August, the UN Refugee Agency revealed that the region currently hosts over 5 million registered refugees and asylum seekers. Additionally, there are more than 13.5 million internally displaced persons in the region as of July 2023. The coordinator noted that the IGAD region has the highest number of refugees in Africa, which is increasing at an alarming rate due to the
ongoing crisis in Sudan.
"I think 5 million refugees is a very large number. I think it is the largest on the continent. We have seen that refugees are feeling destitute without basic survival means. This is also creating pressure in refugees hosting areas which are usually economically underserved in the countries where people receive them," Senay Terefe is quoted as saying.
He explained that the regions in which refugee camps are situated tend to be less economically affluent than other areas of a host country. As a consequence, the pressure is felt at both the subnational and national levels.
In this regard, the coordinator stressed the importance of IGAD using its political mandate to collectively address
the alarming refugee trend in the region. He noted that UNHCR is collaborating with the IGAD member countries to secure essential supplies, address the funding gap in humanitarian aid, and overcome technical obstacles.
Speaking about Ethiopia's role in resolving the refugee crisis in East Africa, he suggested that the country could set an example for other IGAD states by sharing practices in the areas of refugee protection and livelihood improvement. Ethiopia, which hosts nearly one million refugees, has implemented several initiatives to provide refugees with access to livelihood opportunities.
