Ethiopia Refugee Crisis

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Ethiopia Refugee Crisis

From Emma Hall

On March 10th, 2018 where two countries merge borders, Ethiopian citizens have been witnessing long-term violence from local police. Now, more than 10,000 refugees have sought safety in Kenya.

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On March 10th, 2018 where two countries merge borders, Ethiopian citizens witnessed 13 innocent people got murdered by their own police. In August of 2017, Ethiopia lifted a 10-month state of emergency. Since the Prime Minister, Hailemariam Desalegn, stepped down from his position in February of this year, Ethiopia has reclaimed a state of emergency. For those unfamiliar with what this means it is,“A situation of natural danger in which a government suspends normal constitutional procedures in order to introduce special measures such as increased powers for police or army.” 

After the death of 13 people, including children, thousands fled to Kenya to find refuge, mostly consisting of women and children. Most families came with nothing but the clothes on their backs, sometimes walking for 12 straight hours. Locals in Kenyan villages took the first refugees in, aiding them in any way they could. The Kenyan Red Cross, UNHCR, and UNICEF were immediately notified and took action. Providing refugees with shelters, basic food, blankets, and water. Soon, 500 refugees grew to thousands and more NGO’s were getting involved. 

Hearing about this silent crisis a couple weeks after it happened, I knew I needed to get to the camp and give these refugees a voice. Witnessing the living conditions of them was tough, building their huts out of wood, their small “hospital” dirty and small, and the basic food and vegetable oil. Walking around the camp I was invited by an older woman to stay with her in her hut. I had the immersive and humbling experience of sleeping with them on their dirt floor. Despite the language barrier, there was nothing but kindness and acceptance between us. This experience only lead me to be more motivated to do something about this crisis. Instead of donating to an ambiguous website or NGO, this money will go directly through me to the volunteers at the camp. I am doing this in hopes of making it more personal for those of who donate and, eventually be able to show pictures of what your money went directly to. 

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