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Ethiopia + 1 more

UNHCR Ethiopia - Tigray Situation Update #1 (10 November 2020)

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  • UNHCR, in partnership with the Agency for Refugee and Returnee Affairs (ARRA), UN agencies and NGO partners has been extending protection and humanitarian assistance to over 96,000 Eritrean refugees who are mostly sheltered in refugee camps, and in the host communities in Tigray.

  • The refugees are not in immediate danger from the current fighting. However, in the swiftly changing current situation, if the fighting spreads closer and into areas most refugees are currently housed, this may cause secondary displacement, alongside major disruptions to vital services.

  • Refugees are receiving clean water in all camps. However, there is concern that this may be disrupted if power supply goes off completely and shortages of fuel is not addressed as most of the boreholes are connected to the national power grid, with the exception of Shimelba where solar power is used.

  • UNHCR is part of the overall UN security management system. Daily discussions are reviewing the unfolding situation and subsequent action that may need to be taken to relocate non-essential staff if the situation deteriorates further. UNHCR is part of the overall contingency planning exercise taking place for the Tigray region facilitated by OCHA. At the same time a refugee specific contingency plan is being prepared.