Ethiopia

Ethiopia offers free visa extensions to over 15,000 Sudanese refugees

People fleeing the violence in West Darfur, Sudan, cross the border into the Adre area of Chad on August 4, 2023. (Photo: Zohra Bensemra/Reuters)

By Bashir Mohammed | Saturday, May 25, 2024

This comes amid a surge in the number of Sudanese refugees arriving in Ethiopia, with over 50,000 residing in camps across the country, predominantly in the Amhara and Benishangul-Gumuz regions.

More than 15,000 Sudanese refugees have found refuge in urban centres like Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, with their visas being renewed at no cost.

The National Task Force, which is in charge of treating Sudanese and other foreign national refugees, reached an agreement at a recent meeting, according to the Addis Standard.

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This comes amid a surge in the number of Sudanese refugees arriving in Ethiopia, with over 50,000 residing in camps across the country, predominantly in the Amhara and Benishangul-Gumuz regions.

Despite efforts to ensure their well-being, the security situation in these camps has raised significant concerns.

Recent incidents at the Kumer refugee camp in the Amhara region have seen approximately 1,000 Sudanese refugees flee due to threats, with an additional 7,000 forced to leave following attacks and theft by local militias.

Since the conflict in Sudan began in April 2023, more than 128,000 refugees from at least 17 countries have entered Ethiopia, with significant influxes at border checkpoints like Metema and Kurmuk. Among these new arrivals, over 47,000 are Ethiopian returnees.

The situation for Sudanese refugees in camps near the Sudanese border remains dire, with serious security concerns including a lack of security, severe food shortages, and inadequate medical care. Reports have indicated incidents of violence, such as sexual assaults, armed robberies, and kidnappings, with refugees receiving minimal protection.

The National Task Force, established in response to the outbreak of civil war in Sudan, aims to ensure the well-being of these refugees. Despite challenges, the task force expressed optimism, highlighting "encouraging efforts" to address the issues facing Sudanese refugees in Ethiopian camps.

Over 1.6 million Sudanese people have fled their country since a civil war broke out in April 2023 between the army and a rival paramilitary unit. About 33,000 have crossed into Ethiopia, according to UNHCR.