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Eritrean Refugees in Shimelba camp, Tigray Region, Ethiopia  
 
Background 
 
The Eritrean refugees first crossed into Ethiopia soon after the end of the Ethio-Eritrean 
conflict in May 2000. The refugees were initially s ettled in a location called Waalanhibi 
in the Tigray Region in northern Ethiopia, some 1,200 kms north of Addis Ababa. As that 
location was too close to the border with Eritrea, the camp was relocated to Shimelba in 
June 2004. Shimelba camp is situated approximately 33 kms south of Sheraro town, 
located in Tatyabo Woreda in Tigray Region, where U NHCR is presently located with a 
satellite office. The area is semi-desert, with tem peratures up to 42 degrees celsius during 
the dry season. The rainy season is from June to Se ptember each year. The main refugee 
population in the camp is Eritrean. They belong to the following ethnicities: Afar, Bilen, 
Kunama, Saho and Tigrinya.  
 
Plans are underway to relocate the office from Sheraro to Shire, which is 1,100 kms north 
of Addis Ababa. The overall security situation in t he area is stable, however there has 
been a gradual build-up of Eritrean and Ethiopian a rmy personnel and equipment along 
the border, leading to fears of the possibility of a renewed outbreak of violence between 
the two countries.  
 
Refugee population 
 
The table below shows the refugee population in Shimelba camp as of 11 October 2007 
 
Origin Female Male Total 
Eritrea 3,493 11,507 15,000 
 
Registration 
 
UNHCR Sheraro uses Progres database to manage refugee population information at 
Shimelba camp. To maximize the value of the databas e, staff have undertaken 
verification to improve the quality of data, specif ically: dates of birth, particularly of 
possible unaccompanied minors; house locations; mar riages and family reunions in the 
camp after arrival; and registering the vulnerabili ties for all new arrivals, with a view 
towards doing so for all residents of the camp. Dat a verification to register new arrivals is 
ongoing. 
 
Protection 
 
Special protection needs of women and girls 
Refugee women have special protection needs in Shimelba camp as they are facing 
increasing sexual and gender-based violence, rangin g from domestic violence in the 
home, to rape and assault in the community and viol ence committed by local people 
when women travel to collect firewood. The demograp hy of Shimelba camp, particularly 

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among Tigrinya refugees, where men outnumber women 5:1, increases the challenges in 
solving these problems.   
 
Women in Shimelba camp also have to contend with specific health issues. Substantial 
number of women suffer from gynecological and kidne y infections and sexually 
transmitted diseases. In the absence of affordable and discreet alternatives, traditional 
abortions in the camp are common. These traditional  abortions, however, may entail 
additional forms of violence on the women undergoing them. 
 
Female new arrivals face challenges in obtaining ad equate shelter. They have difficulty 
constructing their homes and there are few alternat ives at present other than to live with 
others in the camp, oftentimes unrelated men.  
 
Since the protection needs of refugees, especially the females, are high in Shimelba 
camp, a Gender Officer, seconded by IRC to UNHCR, w as assigned recently, as well as a 
national female Protection Assistant. Furthermore, using the High Commissioners’ 
Special Carry-Over Funds, money is being utilized t o implement GBV related programs, 
such as special housing for refugee women and victims of GBV. 
 
Special protection needs of elderly 
Where family structures have been replicated in Shimelba camp, protection of the elderly 
has been somewhat realized. Where those structures do not exist, particularly in the 
Tigrinya community, protection problems exist. Heal th care problems, such as malaria 
and gastrointestinal disorders afflict the elderly significantly. The elderly have difficulties 
in gathering wood and water and preparing food, bec ause they are either unable or 
unwilling to do so on their own.  Community Service s of IRC maintains a list of elderly 
refugees and tries to assist them also with non-foo d items such as blankets and mosquito 
nets. 
 
Special protection needs of children 
Children, particularly unaccompanied minors, face specific problems in the refugee 
camp. UNHCR is at present working on identifying al l unaccompanied minors but face 
certain challenges. Young people perceive some bene fit in being ‘under 18’, and as such 
it is difficult to quantify their exact age. Provid ing adequate shelter for unaccompanied 
children is a challenge and impacts on the educatio nal and on nutritional status of the 
children. 
 
Security and camp management  
The camp is located thirty kilometers from the Erit rean border, and there are concerns for 
refugee protection in the event of another war. Cam p management should be seen in the 
context of the proximity to the border, the steady flow of new arrivals and the overall 
environment of the area. A strong national security  interest on the part of the Ethiopian 
government restricts movement in and out of the camp. This is enforced by limited access 
to resettlement and possible refoulement.  
 

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The camp has organically expanded, and refugees are  responsible for constructing their 
homes. Toilets are usually placed at the periphery,  leading to increased SGBV. Saho 
refugees and other minority groups are dispersed am ong the majority Tigrinya which also 
leads to protection problems.   
 
The camp’s location and population put pressure on natural resources such as water, 
wood, grass for roof construction and grazing land.  Competition can be intense for these 
resources. 
 
UNHCR works in partnership with ARRA to manage the camp with the understanding 
that refugee protection and preserving human rights  must be balanced with state interests 
but should take priority where possible. UNHCR also  works with the police and local 
security agencies to ensure that the refugee popula tion is protected. Although refugees 
need to obtain pass permits in order to leave the c amp, they can obtain those permits 
fairly easily when the security situation in the ar ea is calm. Access to the local legal 
system is limited however. 
 
Durable solutions 
Resettlement is a high-profile and high-intensity activity in Shimelba camp. UNHCR 
recently completed group resettlement of over 500 K unama refugees to the United States 
with the assistance of IOM. UNHCR is also continuin g to identify refugees from other 
ethnic groups on the basis of protection needs. 
 
As expectations for resettlement are high among the refugees in Shimelba camp, a 
Resettlement Officer, seconded by ICMC to UNHCR, an d a national Resettlement Clerk, 
were assigned to Sheraro office. 
 
Repatriation takes place less frequently than reset tlement and focuses on the elderly and 
unaccompanied children whose best interest it is to  return to Eritrea. UNHCR works 
closely with ICRC in facilitating repatriation to Eritrea. 
 
Partners 
The following implementing partners work closely with UNHCR in meeting the needs of 
the refugee community in Shimelba camp in 2007. 
 
• Community Services 
• Youth Program 
• Vocational Training 
• Water and Sanitation 
• Education (formal and non formal) 
• Gender-based Violence Prevention and 
Response 
International Rescue Committee 
(IRC) 
• Reproductive Health and HIV/AIDS 
Prevention and Response 
• Camp Management Administration for Refugee and 
Returnee Affairs (ARRA) • Food Distribution Partner of WFP 

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• Health  
• Protection 
• Environmental Education 
• Vocational Training 
Dutch Refugee Relief (ZOA) 
• Peace Building 
National Relief and Development 
Program (NRDP) 
• Environmental Rehabilitation 
 
October 2007