Introduction

Ethiopia has been hosting Eritrean refugees for more than 10 years following the outbreak of the Ethio-Eritrea border conflict. Since then, more than 60,000 Eritrean refugees have crossed the border into Ethiopia and sought asylum.

As most of the Eritrean refugees came from major towns of Eritrean, living in the harsh environment and unsuitable living conditions of refugee camp is unbearable. Some of them have nuclear as well as distant families, which they want to re-unify and live together. And others want to live in town and enroll in different governmental and non­governmental colleges and universities by covering their costs.

Considering their back ground and special need for the Eritrea’s refugee the Ethiopia Government,

• Designed different approaches to improve the service
• Facilitating the resettlement program
• Allowing Refugees under the out of camp policy to
  • Eritrean refugees who have immediate relatives (mother, father, sister and brother) are allowed to live with them.
  • Refugees are allowed to live in towns as long as they can cover their own cost of living.
  • Eritrean refugees are authorized to enroll in any of the state or private Institution of higher learning as long as they are able to cover the tuition fees. By this program over 600 Eritrea’s refugee have already benefited from this scheme.

The Government had made additional provision in order to provide further opportunities to the Eritrean refugees. These are:-

• To live in any town in this country as long as they are able to support themselves.
• To live with their respective relatives and/or friends as long as they are willing to support/ sponsor them.

Application Criteria

• The applicant t should be a refugee
• The applicant should be a resident of refugee’s camp
• The applicant should not have a criminal record before

Benefits of refugee

Durable solution

• They have the same resettlement benefit with camp refugees.

Education

• Government will facilitates primary, secondary and higher education
• UNHCR will assist some part of tuition fee and other related costs
• Equal access of scholarship

Health care

• Medical referral case will be assisted in different hospitals.