Addis Ababa, Ethiopia — The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Barham Salih, has lauded Ethiopia’s innovative Makatet Roadmap, a strategic initiative designed to foster self-reliance among refugees within the country. This roadmap represents a significant shift from traditional humanitarian relief to long-term development, aiming to transform refugee camps into sustainable urban settlements. Salih’s visit to Ethiopia, coinciding with World Refugee Day, underscored the importance of international support for host countries in providing long-term solutions that enable refugees to rebuild their lives.
Ethiopia, a leading host nation for refugees in Africa, is home to over 1. 1 million refugees and asylum-seekers, including more than 45,000 Sudanese refugees who have fled the conflict in neighboring Sudan since April 2023.
The Makatet Roadmap, launched in Addis Ababa, outlines a framework for integrating refugees into national service delivery systems, including education and healthcare. It also emphasizes the role of refugee entrepreneurs, such as those at the Ura settlement in the Benishangul Gumuz region, who are contributing to the local economy.
The initiative is a collaboration between the Ethiopian government and the International Labour Organization (ILO), with the Netherlands providing support.
The partnership aims to train refugees and host communities in skills development, facilitating their participation in the labor market. While challenges remain, including implementation gaps and resource constraints, the Makatet Roadmap offers a promising model for other nations addressing the complexities of refugee crises. Its success could pave the way for a more integrated and prosperous future for refugees and host communities alike.
*Additional reporting by ImNews | Sources consulted: 5*
—
This original article was produced by the ImNews editorial team
Source: Africanews
Source: Rédaction Africanews
