Supporting relocation of Somali refugees to Ethiopia
Our Humanitarian Assistance team managed the transport of a Somali refugee family from the camp where they were staying. As part of their resettlement process to a new country, they needed to travel over 700km – across difficult terrain over several days – to reach Addis Ababa for mandatory Immigration Medical Examinations (IME). The World Food Programme supported this part of the journey.
Challenge
These risks necessitated vigilant planning to ensure the family’s safety and maintain their trust throughout the journey.
Road conditions posed further complexity, with unpaved tracks that were susceptible to flooding. The terrain featured river crossings without bridges and demanded extra caution and careful route mapping.
Securing documentation was another significant challenge. Obtaining the requisite movement pass required using our ground team’s extensive network and local contacts, complicated by bureaucracy and time constraints.
Approach
Our team flew from Addis Ababa to Jijiga, then drove 60 km to the camp through flood-prone roads and multiple checkpoints. Using a 4WD, we ensured safe passage and secured permits from Ethiopia’s Refugee and Returnee Services.
After meeting the family, we returned to Jijiga and flew to Addis Ababa. There, we stayed with them, supported medical appointments, arranged extra documentation, and accompanied them back to the camp.
Outcome
The family could move forward in their journey towards resettlement and a new life in a third country.
The children, who had spent their entire lives in Ethiopia, and their parents now have the chance to build a more stable and secure future.