IOM has begun relocation of Sudanese refugees from the Al Damazin
Transit Center located on Ethiopia’s western border with
Sudan to a new camp in Ethiopia’s north-western region of
Benishangul Gumuz.

The decision was made after the transit centre reached its
accommodation capacity of 14,000 people. The first group of 438
refugees arrived at the Bambasi refugee camp – the third of
its kind in the region – at the beginning of June. 

The outbreak of fighting at the beginning of September 2011
between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Sudan People
Liberation Movement North (SPLM-N) in Sudan’s Blue Nile state
led to the displacement of tens of thousands of people who crossed
into Ethiopia, seeking safety and security. 

Since then IOM has provided buses and trucks to move over 27,000
refugees to safety, in close coordination with the UNHCR and the
Ethiopian government’s Administration for Refugee and
Returnee Affairs (ARRA). IOM also provides pre-departure medical
checks for the refugees.  

More Sudanese are arriving in Ethiopia as the violence
continues. Last month, more than 2,500 refugees arrived in
Benishangul Gumuz region, bringing the total arrivals since the
beginning of 2012 to over 9,500, according to a UNHCR
report.  

In addition to providing transport to move the refugees, IOM is
seeking funds to build 1,500 shelters at the Bambasi refugee camp.
UNHCR will provide part of the funding. 

For more information, please contact 

Demissew Bizuwerk

IOM Ethiopia

Tel +251 116 611 117 (Ext. 455) or +251 911 652 102

Email: "mailto:bdemissew@iom.int">bdemissew@iom.int