Blue Nile refugees at Tongo Camp in Ethiopia have confirmed that the Administration for Refugee and Returnee Affairs (ARRA) has delayed distribution of their food rations.
The two year old Tongo Camp is home to about 10,000 refugees. ARRA is responsible for camp management and food distribution at Tongo with support from UNHCR.
A source in the camp who preferred anonymity told Radio Tamazuj on Friday that the relief could be delayed up to 4 January. The sheikhs and the chiefs in the camp were expected to brief the refugees on the matter last Friday.
For its part, the organization told refugees that the delay was caused by the donor’s delay in releasing funds for the refugees. “The organization claims that it will provide food rations to us on 4 January. But we are not optimistic – people are hungry in bitterly cold weather in Ethiopia,” a refugee said.
“Shortage of food will exacerbate suffering of the refugees who are still waiting for their food ration to be distributed by the ARRA organization,” he added.
UNHCR in an update in November disclosed that Tongo camp is beyond its absorption capacity for new arrivals. Only new arrivals who already have immediate family in the camp are allowed to settle there, while others are moved to Sherkole or Ashura camps.
File photo: A woman and child inside their home at Doro Camp for Blue Nile refugees (Radio Tamazuj)