Addis Ababa, August 3, 2011 (Addis Ababa) - Some 76,000 refugees have entered the Ethiopian territory from Somalia due to the drought occurred in that country, Refugees and Returnees Coordination Office said.
Office Legal Enforcement Service Head, Stephanos Gebremedhin said the refugees are receiving assistance at refugee camps established in border areas.
The head said 17,000 Somali refugees have entered the Ethiopian territory in July 2011 alone.
Registration of refugees entering the Ethiopian territory is being carried out at a place called Wuberf, 1-km away from the border of Somalia.
Nearly 1800-2000 Somali refugees were entering the Ethiopian territory in months since the drought occurred in Somalia, he said, adding, currently the number has been reduced to 300-400 as international donor organizations have begun providing support to the drought victims in their areas.
There are 126,000 refugees in refugee camps in Dolo Ado area, he said.
The number of Somali refugees in the camps has reached 126, 000, which was limited to 50,000 before the drought occurred.
It was noted that 75 percent of the refugees are children and women.
Refugees and Returnees Coordination Office Camp Service Head Birhane Ambaye on his part said the fourth camp would be opened to accommodate the flow of Somali refugees.
Some of Somali refugees said they came to the camp crossing 180-km that took up to 13 days on foot.
The refugees, who are farmers and pastoralists, said they used to live in the rural parts of Somalia. They also said Al Shebaba members robbed their properties and raped women.
They said they received warm welcome in Ethiopia, where they are supplied with food, shelter and health services.
The refugees urged the international community to further increase support in the camps.
