Somalian refugees head home
2003-09-19 13:49
Addis Ababa - About 4 571 refugees who fled into Ethiopia from Somalia were able to return home in July and August this year, the Walta Information Centre (WIC) reported on Thursday.
WIC quoted Tsegaye Mehiretu, head of the Eastern Coordination Office of the Immigration and Refugee Affairs Authority, as saying the repatriation, from the Hartshek camp, was carried out with the support from the UN High Commission for Refugees and the World Food Programme.
"The office has also finalised the registration of another batch of 4 500 refugees to be repatriated voluntarily during the month of September," Tsegaye said.
Tsegaye said his office was also planning to repatriate voluntarily between 20 000 to 25 000 of the Somali refugees by the end of the year.
Some 32 788 Somali refugees have taken shelter in eastern Ethiopia's Hartishek, Kebri-Beyah and Aysha refugee camps.
- AFP