Brazil donates food, water purifiers to refugees in Ethiopian region
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (PANA) - Brazil has donated food assistance and water purifiers to support refugees and host communities residing in the Gambella region of Ethiopia, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has announced.
Gambella is the largest refugee hosting region in Ethiopia, home to 385,000 refugees mainly from South Sudan.
UNHCR said in a statement that the water purifiers, with a capacity to purify 5,600 liters per day, together with 18 tons of food supplies, was made during a visit to Ethiopia by the First Lady of Brazil, Janja Lula da Silva.
Mrs. da Silva said: “For Brazil it is a priority to fight against hunger and poverty in Africa."
She noted that millions who live in shelters and camps all over the world, including in Brazil and Ethiopia, face extreme hunger.
"We can only solve these challenges by working together on solutions based on cooperation and solidarity to eradicate hunger and poverty in the world.”
The donation will provide much needed nutritional support as well as clean water to women and girls, including pregnant and lactating women, at-risk children and refugees living with chronic illnesses in the Pinyudo, Jewi, Nguenyyiel, Tierkidi, and Kule refugee camps in Gambella.
The assistance will also benefit those who recently arrived from Sudan and South Sudan because of ongoing conflict and inter-community violence.
The Director General of Ethiopia’s Refugees and Returnees Service, Mrs Teyiba Hassen welcomed the contribution saying “the support being provided now means a lot to those who rely on aid to survive”.
Ethiopia hosts one of the largest refugees and internally displaced populations globally. As the third largest refugee-hosting country in Africa, it is currently home to nearly 1 million refugees – mainly from South Sudan, Somalia, Eritrea, and Sudan – while an estimated 3.5 million Ethiopians are internally displaced.
“We are grateful to First Lady Lula da Silva and the Government of Brazil for their generous donation and kindness towards refugees in Ethiopia. This will provide lifesaving support to thousands of refugees who have been suffering from malnutrition and the effects of food insecurity,” said UNHCR’s Representative in Ethiopia, Mr. Andrew Mbogori.
-0- PANA MA 19Feb2024
