Yemen:
Refugees unite to enhance mobilization efforts
12 January, 2011 | Yemen Times Reporter (Relief Web)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The meeting was hosted by International Relief and Development
(IRD) in Sana'a and included representatives from the Somali,
Ethiopian, Eritrean and Iraqi refugee communities from Kharaz
Refugee Camp, Aden, Taiz, Mukalla, Hodeida and Sana'a.
They were also joined by a member of Yemen's Palestinian
community. Palestinians represent the largest refugee community
and the longest ongoing refugee crisis in the world.
One woman and one man came from each country's refugee
committee was present at the meeting to ensure a gender balance
was implemented. Hosts said that this was particularly important
given that women and children constitute the vast majority of
refugees in Yemen.
The refugees also issued a joint statement at the end of the meeting
yesterday.
"We, the Nationwide Refugee Committees of Yemen, would like to
thank the Yemeni government for the protection afforded to us and
thank the Yemeni people for their hospitality during our
displacement. We welcome the government's initiative of issuing ID
cards to Somali refugees and we look forward to the registration
exercise being extended to non-Somali refugees and expanded
across the country so that all refugees can benefit from this right,"
read the statement.
"As refugees we feel that we suffer a lot in Yemen but, at the same
time, we recognize that Yemen is a poor country and that Yemeni
people also struggle greatly. As such we are grateful for the
opportunity to contribute to the economic and social development
of Yemen."
Claire Bourgeois, the UN's refugee agency UNHCR representative
in Yemen, said that it was the first time that refugees in Yemen
joined forces. The UNHCR estimates that there are more than
170,000 refugees residing in Yemen.
"This event is particularly important as it represents the first time in
the history of refugee affairs in Yemen that committees from all over
the country have met under one umbrella to coordinate their
activities in such a unified manner," said Bourgeois.
"While the committees are active in empowering their communities
to take charge of their own affairs in their respective regions of the
country, this event marks the beginning of the formation of a
nationwide refugee identity rather than a Somali or Ethiopian or
Eritrean or Iraqi identity."
The event's hosts said that refugees have been arriving in Yemen in
large numbers for more than two decades.
A representative from the National Committee for Refugee Affairs
on behalf of the Yemeni government also attended the meeting. The
Yemeni government puts the refugee figure between 700,000 and
one million. The vast majority of refugees are from Somalia but
Yemen also hosts significant numbers of Iraqis, Ethiopians, Eritreans
and Palestinians.
The country is situated on an ancient migration route and continues
to face specific and unique challenges characterized by flows of
mixed migration whereby many flee war and persecution in the
Horn of Africa and others search for economic opportunities in the
Gulf States.
.Courtesy
Refugees unite to enhance mobilization efforts
12 January, 2011 | Yemen Times Reporter (Relief Web)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- SANA'A, Jan. 12 –
Various refugee
committees in
Yemen met during a
two-day meeting that
ended yesterday to
create an overall
forum to establish
and enhance links.
The meeting was hosted by International Relief and Development
(IRD) in Sana'a and included representatives from the Somali,
Ethiopian, Eritrean and Iraqi refugee communities from Kharaz
Refugee Camp, Aden, Taiz, Mukalla, Hodeida and Sana'a.
They were also joined by a member of Yemen's Palestinian
community. Palestinians represent the largest refugee community
and the longest ongoing refugee crisis in the world.
One woman and one man came from each country's refugee
committee was present at the meeting to ensure a gender balance
was implemented. Hosts said that this was particularly important
given that women and children constitute the vast majority of
refugees in Yemen.
The refugees also issued a joint statement at the end of the meeting
yesterday.
"We, the Nationwide Refugee Committees of Yemen, would like to
thank the Yemeni government for the protection afforded to us and
thank the Yemeni people for their hospitality during our
displacement. We welcome the government's initiative of issuing ID
cards to Somali refugees and we look forward to the registration
exercise being extended to non-Somali refugees and expanded
across the country so that all refugees can benefit from this right,"
read the statement.
"As refugees we feel that we suffer a lot in Yemen but, at the same
time, we recognize that Yemen is a poor country and that Yemeni
people also struggle greatly. As such we are grateful for the
opportunity to contribute to the economic and social development
of Yemen."
Claire Bourgeois, the UN's refugee agency UNHCR representative
in Yemen, said that it was the first time that refugees in Yemen
joined forces. The UNHCR estimates that there are more than
170,000 refugees residing in Yemen.
"This event is particularly important as it represents the first time in
the history of refugee affairs in Yemen that committees from all over
the country have met under one umbrella to coordinate their
activities in such a unified manner," said Bourgeois.
"While the committees are active in empowering their communities
to take charge of their own affairs in their respective regions of the
country, this event marks the beginning of the formation of a
nationwide refugee identity rather than a Somali or Ethiopian or
Eritrean or Iraqi identity."
The event's hosts said that refugees have been arriving in Yemen in
large numbers for more than two decades.
A representative from the National Committee for Refugee Affairs
on behalf of the Yemeni government also attended the meeting. The
Yemeni government puts the refugee figure between 700,000 and
one million. The vast majority of refugees are from Somalia but
Yemen also hosts significant numbers of Iraqis, Ethiopians, Eritreans
and Palestinians.
The country is situated on an ancient migration route and continues
to face specific and unique challenges characterized by flows of
mixed migration whereby many flee war and persecution in the
Horn of Africa and others search for economic opportunities in the
Gulf States.
.Courtesy
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