The Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia supports three key issues before the UN High Commissioner for Refugees: 1) Advancing emergency response for displaced populations affected by conflict and natural disasters by increasing response times and aid effectiveness, 2) Improving public health systems for refugees and forcibly displaced persons through partnerships with NGOs and continued health programs, and 3) Providing humanitarian assistance to refugees from Somalia and internally displaced persons through refugee camps, open borders, and calls for additional international support and resources.

1. Delegation from Represented by
Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia University of Idaho
Position Paper for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
The issues presented before the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees are as follows: Advancing
emergency response for displaced populations affected by conflict and natural disaster, improving public health
systems for refugees and other forcibly displaced persons, providing humanitarian assistance to refugees from and
internally displaced persons in Somalia. Ethiopia is a member of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the
African Union (AU), the Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery (GFDRR), the Southern Alliance for
Indigenous Resources (SAFIRE), the Refugee Housing Unit (RHU), and the World Bank. As an actor in the
economy of the African region, the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia is committed to address the following
issues:
I. Advancing Emergency Response for Displaced Populations Affected By Conflict and Natural Disaster
The Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia supports initiatives that are focused on increasing response time and
aid efficacy during times of conflict and natural disasters. In 2006 the Ethiopian government worked closely with
Groupe URD, an independent institute that evaluates and analyzes natural disaster responses, to conduct a Real
Time Evaluation of the effectiveness of disaster aid during the severe drought of 2005-2006 [Groupe URD]. In
2009, Ethiopia was listed as a priority country in the Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery (GFDRR)
report on disaster risk management, which provided money and resources for comprehensive disaster relief
management [GFDRR Report]. Ethiopia has been working hand in hand with the UNHCR to access the rapid
response budget as well as utilizing deployments of Emergency Response Teams. The UNHCR and Ethiopia have
also begun creating “Green Refugee Camps” integrating environmental conservation with refugee camps.
Ethiopia and the UNHCR work with the GFDRR to fund programs to increase natural disaster preparedness by
training officials to implement the“First Phase of Disaster Risk Management Country Plan Project” [World Bank].
In 2012 Ethiopia signed “Ethiopia’s Disaster Risk Management Country Plan,” a grant agreement with the GFDRR
that aims to strengthen data exchange between national, regional and district levels of government [GFDRR].
Ethiopia also works hand in hand with the Southern Alliance for Indigenous Resources and has participated in the
Environmental Management Support in Refugee Camps in Africa program. Eighty-eight participants from Bonga
and Pugindo camps were trained to conduct environmental assessments and interventions in: waste water
management, garbage management, kitchen gardens, and management of natural resources around camps, to support
sustainable forms of agriculture and combat the natural disaster of deforestation [SAFIRE]. Ethiopia maintains five
camps sheltering Somalian conflict refugees and is working with the UNHCR to identify a site for a sixth camp to
add [UNHCR]. Ethiopia also supports an out-of-camp system to allow refugees who have been affected by conflict
to integrate themselves into Ethiopian society. Many of the refugees that take part in this system are students, which
is only possible because Ethiopia absorbs 75% of their student fees while the UNHCR covers the remaining 25%
[UNHCR].
Ethiopia urges the international community to continue its allocation of funds to humanitarian issues brought on by
natural disasters, and encourages continuing the collection of data on the risks posed by various forms of natural
disasters. Ethiopia believes “relief resources should contribute towards addressing the root causes of vulnerability to
famine and food shortages through direct linkage of relief assistance with community-based projects and other
development programmes” [Ethiopia Embassy]. The Ethiopian government encourages the international community
to continue working towards effective relief aid management and to recognize its benefits for refugees and IDP’s.
II. Improving Public Health Systems for Refugees and Other Forcibly Displaced Persons
The Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia recognizes the need for improvement of public health systems for
refugees and other forcibly displaced persons in the region. After the 1996 opening of the United Nations High
Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) office in Addis Abba, a series of regional branches were created throughout
Ethiopia to address the needs of the growing number of refugees and other forcibly displaced persons [OIOS].

2. Ethiopia became party to the Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees (1951), which dealt directly with the
health of refugees. Ethiopia also became party to the 1967 Protocol, in connection to the 1951 Convention held to
amend existing policy. Measures have been taken to improve the environment of refugee camps, notably in the
agreement signed by Ethiopia in 2006 to safeguard the physical and social rights of 73,000 Somalian refugees in
Ethiopia. In 2009 a sexual and gender based violence (SGBV) program was implemented to provide psychosocial
support and empowerment for refugees in accordance with the development goals of the UNHCR [OIOS].
Ethiopia continues to work with a number of NGO's focused on the health of refugees, including the International
Medical Corps (IMC) and, Doctors Without Borders (DWB) for their 404,430 refugees, as well as groups of
displaced persons and refugees living in urban areas. The IMC and Ethiopian Ministry of Health operates three
nutrition programs and are implementing Community-Based Management of Acute Malnutrition programs.
Reproductive health programs are ongoing since 2006, reaching over 300,000 caregivers with information on family
planning and HIV/AIDS prevention. Additionally, DWB works with Ethiopia to medically screen refugees as they
enter the country, provide measles vaccinations, and treat tuberculosis. Ethiopia finished administering the second
round of polio and measles vaccinations side by side with Vitamin A injections to over 76,000 refugee children in 5
camps. Additionally, the Refugee Housing Unit (RHU) began testing a new shelter prototype that would offer more
reliable shelter to refugees [UNHCR Report]. The Kobe Regional unit of the UNHCR works with UNICEF to
improve health and nutrition services in response to increased malnutrition rates and measles outbreaks[UNICEF].
Ethiopia is working with organizations such as the Center for Victims of Torture (CVT) to begin providing
advanced services, like direct mental care for traumatized refugees [CVT]
Ethiopia emphasizes the need for equal and well-rounded health opportunities for refugees and urges the
International community to join them in working to improve upon and evolve current programs to meet future health
needs [CVT]. Ethiopia, in accordance with the UNHCR, also urges the international community to focus on: the
continuation of relationship building with NGO’s to maintain progress of refugee health, the continued partnership
with the UNHCR to maintain a favorably protected environment, and to stabilize the emergency phase of the
response to Sudanese and Somali refugee influxes.
III. Providing Humanitarian Assistance to Refugees from and Internally Displaced Persons in Somalia
The Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia recognizes the need of continued humanitarian assistance to those
affected by the lack of political stability that has gripped Somalia since its 1991 civil war. Ethiopia signed the 1969
Organization of African Unity (now the African Union) Convention "Governing The Specific Aspects of Refugee
Problems in Africa," which outlines an agreement by member states on the acceptance and care of refugees in Africa
[African Union]. In 2009 Ethiopia signed the Kampala Convention which establishes state responsibility for
protecting internally displaced persons. In 2010 Ethiopia established a new camp in Melkadida specifically for
Somalian refugees [UNHCR Global Report 2010].
Ethiopia is currently home to an estimated 245,680 Somali refugees with five camps, and a sixth one currently under
construction [UNHCR Global Report 2010]. Ethiopia supports an initiative to improve the care and status of
refugees and Internally Displaced Persons (IDP’s) worldwide, and especially in the Horn of Africa. The Ethiopian
Home Ministry Administration for Refugee and Returnee Affairs (ARRA) is working closely with the UNHCR to
accommodate the increasing strain of refugees by developing guidelines to facilitate the humanitarian assistance
inside Somalia [Forced Migration Online]. In 2006, Ethiopia created Refugee Proclamation no. 409/2004, which
established a procedure for incoming refugees and internally displaced persons applying for asylum in Ethiopia. The
Ethiopian government has an open border policy for refugees and works to provide the best possible
accommodations. Ethiopia is currently working with Swedish furniture maker IKEA to provide refugee camps with
durable huts rather than tents, to accommodate extreme conditions [United Press International].
Ethiopia calls on the international community to pledge its support to Somalian refugees and IDPs, and urges states
to contribute necessary resources for their continued success. As the UN High Commissioner for Refugees António
Guterres said "Ethiopia is living proof of the message that refugee protection is the right thing to do. The problem is
that the number of refugees coming to Ethiopia is growing and the resources are limited" [UNHCR News]. The
Ethiopian government, in accordance with the UNHCR, urges states to pledge financial support to accommodate
Somali refugees and IDP's, and emphasizes the need for additional resources.