Refugees from Eritrea (beginning)
Eritrean Refugees
In its project proposal submitted in November 2013, IHS indicated an interest in assisting Eritrean Unaccompanied Refugee Minors in the Mai Ayini Refugee Camp and Endabaguna Transit Center in Shire Zone, Tigray Regional State.
As per this project proposal the first phase of intervention was supplying relief items to the Unaccompanied Refugee Minors (URMs). The project was successfully completed January 21-24, 2014. The project included relief items such as clothing, shoes, sanitary items (soap, etc.) for everyone. Also, umbrellas were provided for the girls. More than 1,100 unaccompanied refugee minors received relief aid.
At the completion of the above mentioned relief project, Administration for Refugee and Returnee Affairs (ARRA) asked IHS to take full responsibility for the unaccompanied refugee minors at the Endabaguna Transit Center. Several significant needs were identified.
The immediate needs for the girls:
- Dormitory – The girls are currently living in an open building space, which they share with mothers who have small children. There is not sufficient space to provide a separate living area for them at the current location. Therefore IHS proposes constructing a dormitory for the girls, which will be located near the transit center area for the boys.
- Bunk beds complete with mattresses, sheets, covers, etc.
- Restrooms for the girls, which will be near the dormitory for the girls with the entire area well lighted.
- Washroom where the girls can wash hands, take baths, brush teeth, etc. The need for these activities will be addressed in the teaching on hygiene.
- A fence will be constructed between the living areas for the girls and the living areas for the boys. The fence will be designed to provide privacy and security
The immediate needs for the boys:
- Bunk beds complete with mattresses, sheets, covers, etc.
- Washroom where the boys can wash hands, take baths, brush teeth, etc. The need for these activities will be addresses in the teaching on hygiene.
- Upgrades to include repair of windows, increased lighting, etc.
The immediate needs for the boys and girls:
- Multi-purpose Hall – to be used when meals are served, when there is need for larger groups to gather for training, receiving relief supplies when delivered, for entertainment, etc.
- To address health needs a local physician will be retained to work with all Innovative Humanitarian Solutions medical team members to examine, treat, and be on-call for medical needs of the minors.
- Medicine will be provided as needed along with identified preventative steps to assure good health for the unaccompanied refugee minors.
- Various recreational opportunities will be made available, i.e. soccer, basketball, frisbees, etc. to challenge the minors physically and support other good health habits, which will be taught.
- A reading library will be available to challenge the minors mentally.
English as Second Language will be taught to prepare the minors for life after the refugee camps.
Programs that will provide education, health, recreation, mental challenges, etc.
Counseling and teaching that will help the minors better understand what has happened to them, how they can overcome problems, how they can dream about and accomplish great things about which they may not have ever dreamed.
If possible and permitted one or more teachers will be employed to help the minors be as ready as possible for school when they are assigned to a camp.
PROJECT SUMMARY
Project Title: Projects to Improve Transition Facilities and Programs for Eritrean Unaccompanied Refugee Minors
General Objectives:
To construct a dormitory for Unaccompanied Refugee Minor girls and upgrade the existing dormitory for boys
To provide bunk beds with mattresses, sheets, etc. for boys and girls
To provide restrooms and washrooms for boys and girls
To build a fence for security and privacy between the two living areas
To build a multi-purpose hall for feeding, meetings, etc.
To provide medical resources and counseling on an at-need basis
To provide educational opportunities that will help the youth to transition to schools when they are assigned to a camp
To provide recreational equipment for boys and girls
To provide a reading library for boys and girls
Beneficiaries: Eritrean Unaccompanied Refugee Minors at Endabaguna Transit Center
Number of Beneficiaries: fifty (50) girls and one hundred ten (110) boys with numbers varying according to number arriving and number being assigned to camps
Area of Operation: Endabaguna Transit Center in Shire Zone, Tigray Regional State
Duration of the Project: six to nine months…March to August/November
Time of Commencement: Date MOU is signed, which is estimated to be March/April 2014
Implementing Agency: Innovative Humanitarian Solutions – Ethiopia
Donors: individual philanthropists, charity organizations, grants, etc.
IHS – Ethiopia is legally registered by Ethiopian Charities Agency
Foreign Charity International NGO
registration No.3075 as of July 2013