Disclaimer: This is an English translation of an Amharic article taken from DW Amharic and is intended solely for information purposes.
DW Amharic – Internally displaced people call for assistance
September 28, 2024
“As per our creator’s will we have been forced to dependent on others, we are facing hunger” said sources who say it has been three months since they last received over 15 kg of grain assistance.
As a result of various outbreaks of violence at various times in the various Wollega zones of Oromia Region, internally displaced persons (IDPs) have been displaced to various shelter camps including in South Wollo Zone of Amhara Region but it has been months since they last received food assistance.
The IDPs said the government requested their return to the area where they were displaced from and if they refused they would not receive assistance. The IDPs said though returning to their homes is their preference, until now security concerns have made them fearful of returning and have called on the government to save them from hunger.
“We were told to return to Wollega, they said they didn’t have the budget for us, this is only happening for IDPs in South Wollo but the IDPs in North Wollo are receiving aid” said a source from the Jarae number 1 IDP camp in South Wollo who were displaced due to conflict in Abe Dongoro Woreda of Horo Guduru Wollega Zone.
According to the source, at this time over 45,000 IDPs reside in camps in South Wollo Zone alone. And in Jarae Number 1, there are over 1,500 IDPs including 400 households. The source said they were told, “we were told to return, they said if you do not return we will be unable to provide assistance”.
Another source who was displaced from Babogambel Woreda in West Wollega Zone in 2013 EC spent the last three years in an IDP camp recalled how they did business work which allowed them to provide for their six family members but now they rely on assistance of others.
The source said, “as per our creator’s will we have been forced to depend on others, we are facing hunger” adding that it had been three months since they received 15 kg in assistance grain.
The Oromia Busa-Gonofa (Threat and Risk Management Office) Bureau said they were working closely on the situation of the IDPs and repatriating them and that assistance has not stopped for IDPs in Oromia or Amhara Regions.
The bureau’s head Ato Moges Edae told Deutsche Welle, “now the number of returnees is increasing. Now since the month of Sene we have not gathered data however in that time alone more than 12,000 IDPs have returned. As peace has improved there are some who returned on their own as well. Assistance however has not stopped there or here.”
He said despite this a large number of IDPs are returning to their homes and there is still work to be done in repatriating them. He also explained their approach going forward saying since the end of the Kiremt season efforts to facilitate return of IDPs to their former homes is to continue.
The IDPs however have shared concerns, “we do not dislike returning to our homes, this is primarily what we want. However the supposed reduction of conflict compared to how it was before varies from place to place. We fear the threat remains in some areas.”
The Oromia Region Busa-Gonofa Bureau Head Ato Moges said he does not agree with this, “there are those who impose political pressure so that IDPs do not return to their homes. Peace is now being restored in Oromia Region where the IDPs were displaced from. We are now working on his.”
Seyoum Getu
Yohannes Gebreegziabher
