From: Biniam Haile \(SWE\) (eritrea.lave@comhem.se)
Date: Wed Aug 05 2009 - 09:34:39 EDT
In Brief: ICRC blocked in repatriation of Ethiopians from Eritrea
ADDIS ABABA, 5 August 2009 (IRIN) - Eritrean authorities have stopped
the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) from involvement in
the repatriation of Ethiopians from the territory, the ICRC said.
More than 43,000 Ethiopians and Eritreans wanting to return home have
been repatriated to their respective countries under ICRC auspices since
2000.
"As a neutral intermediary, the ICRC made the necessary logistical
arrangements on both sides of the border and placed the repatriated
individuals in the care of their home country's authorities," said ICRC
spokeswoman Anna Schaaf.
Discussions had gone on for weeks between the ICRC in Asmara and
Eritrean authorities over the matter before the decision was announced,
Umesh Kadam, ICRC's communication delegate in Ethiopia, told IRIN in
Addis Ababa.
The decision, however, does not affect the right of Ethiopian nationals
to leave Eritrea if they wish, ICRC said. It also does not relieve
Eritrea of its obligation to ensure that future repatriation is carried
out satisfactorily.
Eritrea and Ethiopia fought a bloody two-and-a-half-year war over a
1,000km border, ending in a peace accord signed in 2000. The war claimed
up to 70,000 lives and separated thousands of people from their families
and friends.
http://www.irinnews.org/report.aspx?ReportID=85580
<http://pictures.irinnews.org/images/2052218.jpg>
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