Attachments
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 the end of March 2024, the country hosts 1,059,232 refugees. The refugee population in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia, stands at 77,653. 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 30.5 percent. Many are at heightened risk and have specific protection risks such as survivors of Gender-Based Violence, women heads of family, or Unaccompanied and Separated Children. The government, UNHCR and partners support refugees living in Addis Ababa under the Government of Ethiopia’s Out-of-Camp Policy (OCP), the assisted refugee programme and exceptionally self-relocated refugees from now-defunct refugee camps in Tigray. The 2024 Participatory Assessment report revealed that urban refugees and asylum-seekers living in Addis Ababa and surrounding areas face a range of protection challenges that affect their well-being and dignity. Some of the most pressing issues are delays in accessing asylum procedures and obtaining valid documentation, the lack of sustainable livelihood opportunities and economic inclusion programs, child protection challenges such as difficulties in family tracing, implementing temporary care arrangements and durable solutions for Unaccompanied and Separated Children, low rates of school enrollment and retention, the prevalence of genderbased violence, especially among women and girls, physical safety and security issues pertaining to arbitrary arrest, detention and refoulement as well as irregular onward movement. Further, the June 2022 Cash-Based Intervention Post distribution monitoring showed the top 3 expenditures for urban refugees include food, rent, clothes/shoes.
The top 5 basic needs not met by the households being clothes/shoes, rent, food, education and transport. Based on the PDM assessment, the current assistance only covers 34% of the basic needs of these households due to inflation, which resulted in continuous increases in prices of goods and services including rent. To mitigate and address these risks, UNHCR together with the Government's Refugee and Returnees Services (RRS) and partners, has been working closely with the refugee community to strengthen existing communitybased protection mechanisms. RRS conducts registration and documentation with support from UNHCR.
UNHCR advocates for access to asylum procedures, provides cash-based interventions, protection case management, and response, child protection interventions, advances protection from sexual and gender-based violence including Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA), supports health and education services, individual counseling and legal aid, and facilitates livelihood opportunities and durable solutions. In 2024, funding for UNHCR Ethiopia operation has been significantly reduced. Consequently, the extent and availability of cash assistance, medical services, Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS), free legal aid services and community-based protection has been significantly impacted.