An Eritrean refugee has been killed in the Amhara region of Ethiopia. The incident happened on Friday. His dead body was found on Saturday morning.
Around 160,000 Eritrean refugees and asylum seekers are living in Ethiopia. Their refugee camps are mainly situated in Amhara and Afar regions. Before the start of war in northern Ethiopia in November 2020, there were 4 Eritrean refugee camps in the Tigray region i.e. Mai Aini, Adi Harush, Hitsats and Shimelba.
Both Tigray and Eritrean forces were involved in attacks on these refugee camps during the war which came to an end in November 2022. Due to these attacks, Eritrean refugees were relocated in 2022 from the Tigray region to Alemwach refugee camp which was established in the Amhara region. The Eritrean refugee killed on Friday was from Alem-Wach camp. The camp has more than 20,000 Eritrean refugees.
On Friday, 4 armed attackers stormed the camp and took 50-year old Lemlem Berhe and his son with them. Later 50-year-old Lemlem’s dead body was found near the camp. Lemlem moved to Ethiopia years ago. Last month, a 12-year old child was kidnapped from the same camp and ransom was demanded from his mother by abductors.
Earlier this month, a Sudanese refugee camp in Amhara region was attacked by Amhara militias. Kumer camp was stormed by dozens of Amhara militia fighters. Hundreds of refugees fled the camp. Later they staged a sit on Sudan Ethiopia border. Sudanese government and UN refugee agency, in their statements, urged the Ethiopian government to protect the refugees. Ethiopian government, in its response, complained of shortage of resources, urging international community to step in to support.
Thousands of Eritreans flee their country each other. They use Ethiopia as transit to reach Europe or Middle Eastern countries. Since last year, around 30,000 Sudanese refugees entered Ethiopia after war broke out in Sudan between Rapid Support Forces and Sudanese Armed Forces.
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