Eritrea/Ethiopia: 164 Ethiopian civilians and 7 Eritrean civilians repatriated
14-04-2006 News Release
The ICRC has facilitated the repatriation of more than 170 civilians between Ethiopia and Eritrea.
The following was published by the ICRC delegation in Asmara on April 14 2006
164 Ethiopian civilians were repatriated from Eritrea to Ethiopia under the auspices of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). Amongst those repatriated was one unaccompanied minor who could join her family in Ethiopia. In the same operation, 7 Eritrean civilians, including one elderly person and one medical case could join their families in Eritrea.
Acting in its capacity as a neutral and independent intermediary, the ICRC carried out this repatriation with the cooperation of the authorities. ICRC delegates based in Eritrea and an ambulance team of the Eritrean Red Cross accompanied the Ethiopian civilians on the first part of their journey from Asmara, Eritrea's capital, to the border. At the crossing point at Mereb River, located between the towns of Adi Quala in Eritrea and Rama in Ethiopia, the group was met by ICRC delegates based in Ethiopia, before being placed in the care of the Ethiopian authorities.
Likewise, ICRC delegates based in Ethiopia accompanied the Eritrean civilians to the border, where they were met by ICRC delegates based in Eritrea, before being placed in the care of the Eritrean authorities.
The ICRC has assisted people affected by the 1998-2000 armed conflict between Ethiopia and Eritrea regarding their repatriation since June 2000 and strives to ensure complia nce with the rules and principles of international humanitarian law; in particular, the Geneva Conventions.
For further information, please contact:
Marcus Dolder, ICRC Asmara, + +2911 181 164