Disclaimer: This is an English translation of an Amharic article taken from DW Amharic and is intended solely for information purposes.
DW Amharic - Complaints of Amhara Region’s Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs)
July 3, 2024 (Sene 26, 2016 EC)
Individuals displaced from Gimbi Woreda, West Wollega Zone, Oromia Region, who were staying at various camps in South Wollo, Amhara Region that were forcibly returned to their homes this year in April, said that none of their primary issues were addressed and blamed the government.
Even after returning to their home in the Oromia Region, the displaced people said they were unable to lead their former lives.
For its part, the government stated that it is working to provide basic needs to displaced people who have returned and settled back into their homes to the extent of its capacity.
The Returnees’ Complaints
Following the attack on Tolo Kebele in Gimbi Woreda, West Wollega Zone, in 2014 E.C., victims explained that they were displaced to the Argobba Special Woreda, South Wollo Zone, and stayed in Senkelu Camp. Two hundred IDP households were returned to their homes in the first round in early April. However, a returnee who gave us his opinion said, "The two regional governments promised us that they would assist in our resettlement and told us to return to our homes; they also informed us that peace had been re-established and that they were about to return us to our homes. That’s when we formed a committee from among ourselves. Our committee asked the government how we were to return to our homes when we were born and raised in that region, but the perpetrators who attacked us based on our ethnic identity were not held accountable, and our safety was still not ensured. The government told us to ask these questions from there.” The returnee explained how his questions were dismissed and ignored, and he was accused of "collaborating with terrorists and others." Authorities told the IDPs that identity-based questions, including financial compensation, can only be raised once they return home. The officials terminated all assistance for the IDPs right after.
Their Lands are Occupied
The former IDPs explained that something they did not expect awaited them after returning. "When we returned, our land was occupied. Even though I reported that local communities confiscated our land even to other kebeles and woredas, no solution was given to us". An IDP returnee said that he would have been happy to live a life working on his own land, but he was forced to sit and wait for the small amount of aid that arrived because no resettlement or other shelter supports were provided.
According to another displaced returnee, “In 2014, we fled the identity-based killings and went to the Amhara Region. No one discussed how to solve this problem; they just told us that if we did not return, they would not provide assistance, but there was still no solution even after we returned.”
Government’s Response
We asked Mr. Moges Ede, the head of the Oromia Region’s Disaster Risk Coordination office, about the comments made by the displaced returnees, but he explained how the families who have returned to Tole Kebele have returned to their lands urgently, after only staying in the shelter camp for a short a period; He also explained that assistance was being provided to the IDPs. "Their fields are being plowed for them (IDPs). The people are working together to build houses for them, including the reconstruction of burned homes. There is evidence for this. Compared to other places, this is where their children were able to start school more urgently. We decided to assist the returnees with loans for fertilizer and seeds. Regarding security, a committee comprised of individuals from regional to woreda ensures that displaced people return to places where security is guaranteed, and we have not encountered any problems so far.”
He said that around 12,000 people, displaced from the Oromia Region at different periods and in various Amhara region displacement camps, have returned to their homes. Out of these displaced people, more than 3000 returned with the coordination of the government, and more than 9000 were said to have returned on their own.
Seyoum Getu
Mantegaftot Seleshi
Yohannes Gebre Egizaybher
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