The situation for refugees in Ethiopia’s Amhara region is dangerous and brutal

TLDR

Refugees in Ethiopia’s Amhara region face severe violence and insecurity, as highlighted by The New Humanitarian. Eritrean and Sudanese refugees experience daily attacks, kidnappings, and robberies, often perpetrated by local militias and armed community members amidst the ongoing conflict between Ethiopian federal forces and Fano militias. Refugee camps lack basic services like food, healthcare, and sanitation, and aid workers face life-threatening risks. Calls for relocation to safer areas have gone unheeded, leaving refugees trapped in dangerous conditions. The situation underscores systemic failings in local governance and international protection, highlighting the urgent need for safety and support.

The situation for refugees in Ethiopia’s Amhara region is dire, with daily threats to safety and survival. Thousands of Eritrean and Sudanese refugees in camps like Alemwach are subjected to violence, robberies, and kidnappings. Armed groups, including Fano militia members and local community actors, exploit the breakdown of law and order for financial and personal gain. Refugees report being shot, stabbed, and abducted for ransoms, with at least nine killed in Alemwach in the past year.
 
The lawlessness in Amhara stems from the ongoing conflict between the Ethiopian federal government and Fano militias. This has created a security vacuum, especially in rural areas, where armed actors operate with impunity. Even guards stationed at refugee camps have been accused of complicity in the violence, alternating between protecting and preying on the refugees they are tasked to safeguard.
 
Conditions in the camps are abysmal. Basic services like food, clean water, and medical care are either insufficient or unavailable. Food rations have been halved, and latrines are overflowing or destroyed. Refugees seeking to leave the camps often face extortion from local security forces, further trapping them in unsafe conditions. Camps like Kumer and Awlala have already been closed due to insecurity. Still, the newly established Aftit camp also struggles to provide adequate services.
 
Refugees have repeatedly called on the Ethiopian government and the UNHCR to relocate them to safer areas. However, these calls remain primarily unanswered, leaving them vulnerable to escalating violence. Aid agencies face similar challenges, with access restricted by the conflict and rising risks to their workers. The broader context of this crisis reflects systemic failings in refugee protection, where those fleeing violence in their home countries are subjected to new dangers in host nations.
 

Concluding Reflections

The plight of refugees in Ethiopia’s Amhara region highlights the urgent need for systemic changes in refugee protection and humanitarian response. The failure to provide basic safety and services to those fleeing violence undermines international commitments to protect vulnerable populations. Addressing this crisis requires coordinated efforts between Ethiopian authorities, international organizations, and humanitarian actors to relocate refugees to safer areas and ensure consistent access to basic services.
 
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