CONFIDENTIAL
UNHCR EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE: GENEVA 6-16 OCTOBER
BACKGROUND BRIEF: 6(a)
HORN OF AFRICA
INTRODUCTION
1.
The Horn's serious refugee problems are a direct result of past and present political tensions in the region, and the recent drought conditions. They are exacerbated by the fact that many of the borders are ill-defined, and habitually crossed by nomadic peoples,
even in normal times.
2. Ethiopia
Some Sudanese refugees have fled to western Ethiopia to escape the civil war in Sudan. Most consider Ethiopia a temporary refuge, and would, we believe, return to Sudan if the situation stabilised. Ethiopian Government grants refugees rights and facilities (land, education) as far as its limited resources permit. Ethiopian/Sudanese relations remain strained, despite
Sadiq-el-Mahdi's recent meeting with Mengistu at the OAU Summit, and General Q_addafi's recent offer to mediate. Meanwhile, Ethiopia continues to support the Sudan Peoples' Liberation Army (SPLA).
3
may be
The Ethiopian Government's villagisation programme has caused many Ethiopians (mainly Oromos) to flee to Somalia and Djibouti. Villagisation under which people are brought into village-based centres from their homes, which are traditionally scattered a cause for greater concern than the Ethiopian Government's resettlement programme. There have been reports from Ethiopia of old villages being burnt before new homes are ready and much hardship and suffering caused. The programme has been described in the Ethiopian press as "people control". HMG does not support or provide funds for the villagisation programme. At the EC Development Council in April, the Commission gave an assurance that EC aid would not be used for resettlement or agricultural
collectivisation.
4. Eritrea/Tigray. The rumoured major Ethiopian offensive has not
CONFIDENTIAL