Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) residing in the 70-care shelter in Mekelle city have expressed that a permanent resolution is only achievable when their safety is assured, and they can return to their homes.

The IDPs shared these sentiments during discussions with delegates from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the International Organization for Migration (IOM), and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP).

The displaced individuals emphasized that a lasting solution can only be achieved when they are able to return to their homes. They also reported that returnees in Raya and Tselemti have been subjected to assaults and are living in destroyed infrastructure without assistance.

“Everyone has visited us and inquired about our issues, but no one has helped us return to our homes,” they expressed.

Lt. Gen. Tsadkan Gebretinsae, vice president of the Tigray Interim Administration, mentioned that discussions are ongoing with the federal government and international organizations to ensure the safe return of displaced people to their homes. He highlighted the importance of returning the displaced individuals to their homes as a primary task of the Tigray Interim Administration.

Additionally, Dr. Raouf Mazou, Assistant High Commissioner at the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, reaffirmed the commitment to providing a sustainable solution to the problems faced by IDPs until they can safely return to their homes.

President Getachew Reda informed the delegation that IDPs are experiencing severe socio-economic challenges due to their inability to fully return under the Pretoria Peace Agreement. He emphasized the pressure being put on the federal government to fully implement the agreement.

Meanwhile, millions of displaced individuals continue to suffer from cold and hunger in temporary shelters without sufficient assistance. Furthermore, reports indicate that over 50,000 refugees are in Sudan, and recently returned internally displaced persons in Tselemti and Raya have been assaulted by militants, leaving them without basic services.