Ethiopian Refugees in Somalia May Go Home
The voluntary repatriation of tens of thousands of Ethiopians who sought refuge in Somalia 12 years ago during a war between Ethiopia and Somalia should begin in March, officials said Thursday.
The refugees are predominantly ethnic Somali Ethiopians who fled the fighting during the two nations’ war in 1977-78 over a piece of arid land in southeastern Ethiopia called the Ogaden.
The number of refugees has never been certain. Somalia says there are 700,000, the Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees puts the figure at 160,000 and Ethiopia says they number about 100,000.
Somalia has begun registering some of the refugees. They will be asked if they want to return to Ethiopia. Those who don’t will be granted limited assistance to help them settle in Somalia.
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