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UN High Commissioner for Refugees Barham Salih has called for greater international support for refugee-hosting countries during a visit to Ethiopia, where he praised the government's Makatet programme as a model for inclusion. Salih visited the Ura refugee settlement in Ethiopia's northwestern Benishangul Gumuz region to mark World Refugee Day.

Ethiopia is one of Africa's largest refugee-hosting countries, home to over 1.1 million refugees and asylum-seekers, according to Africa News. The Ura settlement, established in 2024 to host people fleeing the civil war in neighbouring Sudan, hosts more than 14,500 Sudanese refugees who live alongside the local community.

Coverage comparison

Two Africa News reports covered the visit, with slightly different emphases. One report highlighted the success of the Makatet programme and Ethiopia's progressive approach to refugee inclusion, describing the initiative as an "important and ambitious roadmap." The other focused on the High Commissioner's visit and the need for international support, framing his trip as a call to action for the international community to share responsibility with host countries.

Both reports included direct quotes from Salih and refugees, and used language such as "progressive," "inclusive," and "long-term solutions." The first report described the "enormous strain" on host communities, while the second stressed the importance of moving from humanitarian relief to development.

Key claims

  • Salih visited the Ura refugee settlement in Ethiopia's Benishangul Gumuz region, which was established in 2024 to host people fleeing the civil war in Sudan.
  • Ethiopia hosts over 1.1 million refugees and asylum-seekers, including more than 45,000 who have fled conflict in Sudan since April 2023.
  • The Ura settlement hosts over 14,500 Sudanese refugees, who live alongside the local community and have access to the same services.
  • The Ethiopian government's Makatet programme provides refugees with documentation, access to legal services, education, healthcare, and the job market.
  • The programme aims to move beyond long-term camp dependency, transforming traditional camps into self-reliant urban settlements integrated with national service delivery.
  • Salih launched Ethiopia's Makatet Roadmap in Addis Ababa two days before his visit to Ura, joined by government ministers and officials.

Details from the visit

At the Ura settlement, Salih visited a primary school where Sudanese and Ethiopian children learn together. He also met Sudanese refugee entrepreneurs who had opened businesses to support themselves and their families, contributing to the local economy.

Refugees at the settlement expressed support for the programme. Saron Bibi Dosa said it was good to work together and cooperate while "sharing different facilities." Rasha Mohammed, another Sudanese refugee, said the Makatet Roadmap would help those without jobs: "For us, the women or the men that don't have jobs, that helps a lot. You know, that helps a lot for you to build yourself up."

Salih described the Makatet programme as an "important and ambitious roadmap," saying it allows refugees documentation and access to legal services, education, healthcare, and the job market. "I think they know this is the way to helping both the refugees but also the host communities who are under enormous strain," he said. "But this must not be about shifting responsibility, this must be about sharing responsibility."

The Makatet Roadmap is seen as a framework for shifting from solely humanitarian relief to long-term development, moving beyond decades of fragmented assistance. Under the model, refugees and host communities grow together under a unified, government-led system. Salih welcomed the shift to social inclusion, highlighting the initiative as a global standard for localised development. His visit came on World Refugee Day, which highlights the fundamental human right to seek safety, dignity, and protection.