Radio Erena: 20 November 2014
Thousands of Eritrean immigrants in the Ethiopian refugee camps of Mai Ayni, Adi Harush, and Htsats are reported to have been crossing to Sudan in order to find their way out to Europe via Libya.
In an interview Erena Radio made with several of the refugees at Mai Ayni and Adi Harush, the refugees attributed their decision to the lack of rehabilitation programs put in place by the Ethiopian government.
A former refugee from Mai Ayni – Tu’umzgy Tewolde, who had lived at the camp for four years before he decided to cross to Europe via Sudan and Libya, confirmed the lack of opportunities for rehabilitation on top of the harsh conditions at the comp.
Another Eritrean immigrant who is currently in the port city of Calais, France waiting to cross to Great Britain – Habtom noted that he did not see any rehabilitation program in his eight-month-stay at Adi Harush camp and that there were 150 refugees that he was aware of who had decided to cross to Europe some individually and others in groups.
Habtom further said that this is mostly seen at Mai Ayni and Adi Harush camps and most of the refugees are aided by smugglers within the camps who demand, at least, $500 US dollars.
Although the Ethiopian government is reported to have built additional camp known as Hatsits refugee camp, the camp has currently been overflown compared to the number of residents registered originally.
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