Press release: British Ambassador highlights need for renewed action on World Refugee Day

To mark World Refugee Day, on 20 June, British Ambassador Susanna Moorehead accompanied Foreign Minister Workneh and United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Filippo Grandi to the Nguenyyiel refugee camp in Gambella. There they saw first-hand how the Ethiopian authorities and international community are working together to provide emergency support to people fleeing the terrible conflict in South Sudan.

Through its Department for International Development (DFID), the UK has a £125m programme to provide emergency support and basic services for refugees, host populations and migrants across Ethiopia, including in Gambella. In addition, through its £80 million of support for the Jobs Compact announced by Prime Ministers May and Hailemariam last year, the UK is helping create tens of thousands of jobs for refugees and Ethiopians to give them more opportunities for the future. And last week, UK Secretary of State for International Development Priti Patel announced a further £30 million of UKaid to help Ethiopia respond to the drought.

Speaking following the visit Ambassador Moorehead said:

This new camp is an excellent demonstration of how Ethiopia and international partners like the UK are working together to support refugees. The generosity of the host community shows humanity at its best. But this support is only necessary because of the terrible and persistent man-made conflict in South Sudan. As well as our support to those who need it most, we must also look ahead. The region must again lead the way to press for peace in South Sudan. And we must all look at how we can innovate to ensure those who have fled for their lives have opportunities for the future. I am proud that the UK-Ethiopia partnership is leading the way through the Jobs Compact, which will support both Ethiopia’s own development and prospects for refugees here. I hope that in future on World Refugee Day I can be seeing not just how we are helping keep refugees to survive, but how we are enabling them to thrive.

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