The flow of refugees into Ethiopia kept increasing due to the prevailing human right violations in Eritrea and the civil unrest in Somalia. Consequently, several refugees from Somalia and Eritrea have continued to seek asylum in Ethiopia.

The Eritrean refugees kept on crossing the borders with Ethiopia at a monthly rate of 1,250 persons in search of a safe haven. The ARRA is now opening a new camp in the vicinity of Mai-aini in Tigray region in order to accommodate the new arrivals.

According to interviews with the newly arriving asylum seekers from Eritrea, reasons to seek asylum in Ethiopia and in other countries include various human right violations. Eritreans including females are being conscripted into the military service and made to service for an indefinite period. According to the refugees from Eritrea, individuals opposing the rigid regulations set by the Eritrean regime are being jailed and tortured harshly.

Most of the refugees from Eritrea being young, single and urbanites are discontented with the low standard of services provided in the camps. Some among them leaves their camps spontaneously in search of better opportunities in other countries.

In similar developments, the number of Somali refugees coming to seek asylum in Ethiopia is increasing from time to time. Over 23,000 Somalis have arrived in Dollo Ado Ethiopia in 2009 due to the current fighting and general insecurity in southern and central Somalia. Most of them left their country following the withdrawal of Ethiopian troops in December 2008.

The intense fighting in Mogadishu and southern Somalia continues to be the main cause for several thousands of Somalis to flee for safety outside their areas of origin in Somalia.