UNHCR Ethiopia Addis Ababa Quarterly Urban Fact Sheet, 30 April 2023

Operational context

Over the last decade, Ethiopia has witnessed significant influxes of refugees from neighboring countries, primarily Somalia, South Sudan, Eritrea and Sudan. As of June 2023, the country hosts 912,000 refugees, including 74,353 urban refugees living in Addis Ababa.1 Eritrean refugees make up approximately 92 % of the population in Addis Ababa, followed by Yemenis, Somalis, Congolese, and other nationalities.

Women constitute over half (55 percent) of the urban population, while children make up for 30%. Many are at risk and have specific protection risks such as survivors of gender‐based violence, women heads of families or unaccompanied and separated children.

The 2022 Participatory Assessment report revealed that urban refugees and asylum seekers face a range of protection challenges that affect their wellbeing and dignity. Some of the most pressing issues are: the delays in accessing asylum procedures and obtaining valid documentation, the lack of sustainable livelihood opportunities and economic inclusion programs, Child protection challenges such as Unaccompanied and Separated Children, school enrollment and dropout problems, the prevalence of gender‐based violence, especially among women and girls, gender‐based violence (GBV), physical safety and security issues pertaining to arbitrary arrest and detention, and irregular onward movement.

To mitigate and address these risks, UNHCR together with the Governments Refugee and Returnee Services
and partners have been working closely with the refugee community to strengthen existing community‐based protection mechanisms. The RRS conducts registration and documentation with support of UNHCR. UNHCR advocates for access to asylum, provides cash‐based interventions, protection case management and response, child protection (CP) interventions, provides protection from sexual and gender‐based violence including Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA), supports health and education services, individual counselling and legal aid, and facilitates livelihood opportunities and durable solutions.