Refugee camp hosting over 11,000 Eritrean refugees to be expanded

Refugee camp hosting over 11,000 Eritrean refugees to be expanded
Addis Ababa, April 28, 2006 (WIC) - The Shemelba Refugee Camp, where over 11,000 Eritrean refugees are accommodated, would be expanded as the influx is on the rise, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) disclosed.
Senior Public Information Assistant with the Regional Liaison Office of UNHCR, Kisut Gebre-Egziabher, told WIC that the camp would be expanded to host additional 5,000 refugees.
He said the camp is overpopulated due to continued influx of refugees to northern Ethiopia from Eritrea. Currently, the camp is the only one with increasing population of refugees in the country.
According to Kisut , the influx was on average 400 people per month between March and May in 2005, while it is about 250 per month this year.
UNHCR has been closely working with the Authority for Refugees and Returnees Affairs on the expansion work expected to be finalized within this year, he stated.
Kisut further noted that the refugees have been getting the necessary protection from the government of Ethiopia and the Commission is rendering 15 kilograms of food rations per head in a month as well as health and sanitary provisions, among others.
UNHCR is seeking a durable solution to the problem of the refugees, Kisut said, adding that it has put in place elementary school facilities and children of school age are attending classes.
Shemelba is one of the seven refugee camps in the country, it was learnt.