International News
“Our children could face the risk of dying from starvation” says illegal Ethiopian father stranded in front of IOM office in Hargeisa
October 21, 2011 · 9 Comments
HARGEISA(SomalilandPress)-Throughout the world today there are at least 50,000 NGOs in the Third
World receiving over $10 billion in funding from international financial
institutions, Euro-US-Japanese governmental agencies and local governments.
The managers of the biggest NGOs manage million dollar budgets with salaries
and perks that are comparable to CEOs. They jet to international
conferences, confer with top corporate and financial directors and make
policy decisions that affect – in the great majority of cases adversely -
millions of people … especially the poor, women and informal sector
working people.
The International Organization for Migration-popularly known as IOM established in 1951 and currently operating in Somaliland, a self-declared sovereign state that is internationally recognised as an autonomous of Somalia has failed to deliver the assistance of a more than 120 Ethiopians stranded in Somaliland.
On Sept/2011 the government of Somaliland announced that all illegal immigrants, mostly Ethiopians, must return. Lack of means to travel to Ethiopia, and hence falling under the mandate of the IOM took over the operation of their safe return.
In anticipation of receiving support as promised by the IOM, the more than 120 illegal Ethiopians went to one of the currently functioning IOM offices in Hargeisa, the capital.
After sleeping outside in front the IOM office for more than 12 consecutive days and eating whatever they can find, as well as their freedom of movement became virtually impossible and have not received the humane treatment they fully deserve, Mr. Girayse an organiser of the deportation and one of the stranded speaking to a reporter of berberanews.com online webite, said “We’ve been stuck here (in front of IOM office) for past 12 days with no food and water”. He continued on by saying “We are following the orders of Somaliland government and IOM has promised to take us to Ethiopia, disappointingly, they have yet to do so and what’s more alarming is that some of the children became severely ill after eating biscuits given by IOM thus if not aided immediately, our children could face the risk of dying from starvation”.
Another man sitting calmly beside Mr. Girayse during the interview said, “Whatever he (Mr. Girayse) is saying is the absolute truth and will not add anything, however, I would like to convey to the Somaliland government and international organizations to take action of our appalling situation mainly caused by the empty promises of the IOM”.
The IOM which is said by a reliable source to have received around 50 million US dollars for this project declined a Berbera News reporter for an interview via telephone to get some answers from their side.
The Somaliland government is said to be enormously concerned about the safety and well being of the illegal Ethiopians awaiting to be deported as well as the actions of the IOM.
Mohamed Sa’ed Abdillaahi
Chief Editor,Berberanews.com
Email: info@berberanews.com
Email this story
By Mo Guled
Tags: Illegal Ethiopians in Somaliland, IOM, Somaliland, Somalilandpress
Readers Comments (9)
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Whether it's IOM or Somaliland authorities, this poor people should be helped one way or the other. They should either allowed to stay and work in Somaliland or helped cross into their country of origin. What is happening to them now is against the international human right norm which is not good for the image of Somaliland.
I agree 100% they should be helped to go back or be allowed to stay. That's quite sad. I think most are Muslims too
IMO is a Somaliweyn organization. If you go to their website and apply for their professional jobs open in Somaliland, they will never respond to you. Why? This is because you’re a Somalilander that they don’t want to higher! The IMO attended Somalias Independence Day celebrations and also Puntland celebrations, to recruit the Somali Professionals that will eventually be higher to work in Hargeisa. Why is it that the IMO refuses to accept Somalilanders that are experienced professionals and higher recent graduates from college to teach at Hargeisa universities?
I mean hire. I was mad when I was writing this comment
This not acceptable by any standards. The IOM must be held accountable if bad things happen to this poor Ethiopians.
I hope Somaliland will at least feed them and give the necessary immediate medical assistance to these human beings.
I have always wondered if the Somaliland Diaspora applying for positions within their country are being blocked. I know many have complained and Somalilanders do need the Diaspora according to many. So should the Somaliland Diaspora who are being denied positions send or inform our government of this injustice.
It seems without the Diaspora organising themselves to push for better treatment towards our professionals right to work in their country and be given the opportunity to receive the funds instead of those who aren't able. We will remain blocked out.
Please write often of your experiences to the foreign minister and use public media to show that there are Diaspora who are being refused and not as others would like to think that we just don't do anything or enough for our country.
This is unacceptable!! Our governmemnt is as guilty as the so called IMO. This is not the way to treat any human being let alone Muslim guests in our own land. These people should be allowed to stay and work in Somaliland as long as they don't break the laws or beg in the streets. And they should be given an initial assistance too,
This is not good for Somaliland government's image. They must do something to alleviate the sufferings of these people and ask IOM to make a smooth transition to Ethiopia. We have good relations with Ethiopia. We should treat their people as we would like to be treated. We are known for our hospiality. This is not acceptable by any standard. We could do better especially when children are involved.
Hi everyone. I'm afraid the story written above is categorically false. IOM and DRC provided 236 migrants who came to the MRC with hot meals and clean drinking water during a 10 day period they camped at the MRC. UNICEF also provided High Energy Biscuits to the MRC to assist the migrants as well. I know because I was there in person and witnessed this. We must be careful not to believe everything written in the press… just because it is written does not make it true.