Ethiopia

©Mohamed Fadol, 2024

Ethiopia’s Response to the Sudan Crisis

Ethiopia has a long tradition of welcoming refugees and has kept its borders open to refugees and asylum-seekers fleeing from the conflict in Sudan. Sudanese asylum-seekers are recognized on a prima facie basis, while the refugee status of non-Sudanese asylum-seekers is determined on an individual basis in line with Ethiopia’s Refugees Proclamation No. 1110/2019. The Government of Ethiopia adopts inclusive policies for the socio-economic inclusion of refugees.

As of August 2026, Ethiopia hosts 57,694 individually registered refugees from Sudan, including post-2023 arrivals and protracted caseloads. Additionally, 21,514 Sudanese and other refugees of different nationalities were registered at household level (L1), but their whereabouts remain unknown, as they have not come forward for individual registration despite several months of grace period. Sudanese refugees are hosted in urban centers and existing settlements, as well as in two newly established settlements: Aftit Settlement in Amhara Regional State and Ura Settlement in Benishangul-Gumuz Regional State. The 2026 Ethiopia Country Refugee Response Plan guides response efforts.

The Government of Ethiopia is committed to advancing solutions from the onset of emergencies. The Makatet Roadmap is Ethiopia's National Framework for the Socio-Economic Inclusion of Refugees. Guided by the Refugees and Returnees Service (RRS), the Makatet Task Team, UNHCR and partners, it consolidates the country's inclusion efforts, including commitments at the 2016 Leaders’ Summit and 2019 and 2023 Global Refugee Forum pledges, into a strategic blueprint for integrating refugees into national systems.

Policy & Legal

Refugee receives a Fayda number and ID document in Ethiopia.

Refugees in Ethiopia receive national ID numbers (Fayda).

©UNHCR/Sona Dadi, 2026

Policy & Legal

What rights do refugees have in Ethiopia? From documentation to the right to work, read about the policy & legal environment in Ethiopia.

The Makatet Roadmap

The Makatet Roadmap is the National Framework for the Socio-Economic Inclusion of Refugees and represents a transformative shift in Ethiopia’s approach to forced displacement, moving beyond traditional humanitarian aid toward a sustainable development-led model.

Population Movement from Sudan to Ethiopia

The Government's Refugees and Returnees Service (RRS) and UNHCR screen and count people who are seeking international protection in Ethiopia. These include Ethiopian refugee returnees, Sudanese refugees, and refugees of other nationalities. The following dashboard displays key population data and trends.

Benishangul-Gumuz Regional State

Benishangul-Gumuz Regional State has a long tradition of hosting displaced people. The region hosts 75,996 refugees, of which 53,772 are from the Sudan, alongside 40,913 internally displaced persons (IDPs) and 1,300 Ethiopian returnees from Sudan. The host community amounts to between 1.5 and 2 million people. As of August 2026, the refugee population resides across four refugee locations: Tsore (29,905 total / 14,479 Sudanese), Bambasi (19,639 total / 19,564 Sudanese), Sherkole (14,365 / 8,897 Sudanese), and Ura (12,087 total / 10,832 Sudanese). IDPs are mainly hosted in Bambasi and Oda Buldigilu sites.

The region hosts both protracted and new arrival refugee populations. The protracted caseload amounts to a total of 62,061 individuals, primarily from Sudan (41,092) and South Sudan, with a small percentage from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi, Uganda, and other African Great Lakes countries.

Since April 2023, the region has received 32,663 new refugee arrivals from Sudan, of which 31,182 are Sudanese. Of these, 1,848 were individually registered and relocated to the already overstretched Sherkole refugee camp in 2023, and 12,087 were relocated to and individually registered at Ura Settlement, which has been designated as the primary reception site for this caseload. Of a total of 18,728 new arrivals (of which 17,877 are Sudanese), the whereabouts are unknown, as they have not come forward for individual-level (L3) registration at the Ura site despite several months allowing for latecomer registration.

In January 2024, regional authorities allocated 350 hectares of land for the development of the Ura Settlement, with a planned capacity of up to 34,000 refugees. The site is located adjacent to Akuda kebele (village), home to 3,500 host community members, and 10 km from the regional capital, Assosa, offering strong potential for economic linkages and local development. To facilitate solutions from the start, UNHCR, the Refugees and Returnees Service (RRS), and partners are working towards an integrated settlement model and refugee inclusion in strengthened national service delivery.

Ura Settlement

Benishangul-Gumuz Regional State

Amhara Regional State

Amhara Regional State hosts 16,201 refugees, of which 3,754 are Sudanese as of (August 2026), as well as 478,931 IDPs residing across 18 locations. Additionally, 17,695 of which 10,644 Sudanese and other refugees of different nationalities were registered at household level (L1), but their whereabouts remain unknown, as they have not come forward for individual registration despite several months of grace period. Two settlements host refugees: Aftit Settlement serves as the primary location for the reception and accommodation of refugees arriving from Sudan; Alemwach Settlement hosts 10,728 Eritrean refugees (August 2026), many in protracted situation. Conflict-related internal displacement is prevalent, and the protection context remains complex, shaped by regional security dynamics, multiple authorities, and host community sensitivities. Together, refugee hosting, internal displacement, development deficits, and recurrent shocks compound one another, making an integrated approach to development investment essential in Amhara.

Aftit Settlement was established in July 2024, following a decision to close the earlier established Kumer and Awlala sites. It is located in Metema woreda (West Gondar Zone), approximately 8.5 km from Gende Wuha and 30 km from the border with Sudan. Aftit kebele (village) has a host population of 5,060, while Metema woreda's population totals 174,177. As of August 2026, Aftit Settlement hosts 5,472 refugees (2,592 households) - 87% from Sudan, 7% from South Sudan, and 6% from Eritrea. The settlement is at 71% absorption capacity.

Aftit Settlement has adopted a solutions from the start approach and integrated service delivery via national systems:

Level 3-registration started in May 2025. In July, the Government of Ethiopia’s Refugee and Returnees Service took over registration from UNHCR countrywide, with UNHCR remaining with a technical support and advisory role. Registration of refugees in the settlement has since been completed. Procedures for latecomers have been put in place. All registered 5,472 refugees have been successfully enrolled in the Fayda National ID programme. All 3,146 refugees eligible to obtain an ID card have already received it; ID cards are issued to refugees 14 and above years old.
On education, in the newly constructed Aftit Primary School 1,658 refugee and host community students are enrolled. The expanded Genda Wuha Secondary School enrolls 320 refugees and 2,500 host community students. Support is provided by Education Cannot Wait, EU, World Bank, Plan International Ethiopia, UNHCR, and the Woreda Education Office.
On health, Aftit Health Center has been upgraded to provide primary healthcare for refugees and hosts, with support from the EU, MTI, World Vision, UNHCR, and the Woreda Health Office. Access barriers remain, including limited police presence and security.
Livelihoods interventions provide agricultural inputs, livestock, and productive assets; TVET-based skills training; cash assistance; and initiatives that enhance access to formal financial services and credit.

Resources

Health and Education in Aftit

Recommended Priority Investments

Health

In coordination with Regional Health Bureau authorities, health facilities in areas hosting refugees and returnees require long-term development investments to meet the growing demand and in support of the Government of Ethiopia Health Sector Development and Investment Plan (HSDIP). In Benishangul-Gumuz State, the opening of the Akuda Inclusive Health Centre in 2025 strengthened service provision for both refugees and hosts. In Amhara, development investments have upgraded Aftit Health Center to provide primary healthcare for refugees and hosts.

Moreover, many refugees and returnees from Sudan face mental health challenges, highlighting the need for expanded mental health support and treatment. Investments are also needed to strengthen community systems to promote the utilization of health services and improve risk communication.

Education

In accordance with Education Sector Development Plan VI (ESDP VI), the Refugee Proclamation No. 1110/2019 and the 2017 Djibouti Declaration on Quality Education for Refugee, Returnees and Host Communities, the Government of Ethiopia facilitates the inclusion of refugee children in the national education system. At the 2023 Global Refugee Forum, the Government pledged to facilitate the inclusion of refugees into national systems with focus on secondary education and TVET.

Regional Education Bureaus (REB) and woreda education authorities facilitate the inclusion of refugee children arriving from Sudan. In Benishangul-Gumuz, development investments have supported the expansion of Akuda Tumet Primary School and the opening of Ura Inclusive Secondary School. In Amhara, development investments have supported the construction of Aftit Primary School and expansion of Genda Wuha Secondary School. Further investments are needed to increase enrolment rates and increase access to tertiary education.

WASH

Investments are required to expand WASH infrastructure, including the drilling of new boreholes, solarization, and the development of integrated water systems. Construction of shared family latrines and handwashing stations is essential, alongside improving access to public sanitation facilities in schools and healthcare centers.

Building local capacities to operate and maintain WASH infrastructure is a priority for sustainability. This includes establishing and strengthening town water utilities, developing business plans, and setting appropriate water tariffs.

Energy

In both Aftit and Ura settlements, investments are needed to increase access to electricity for the health centers, communal kitchens, grinding mills, electrification at household level, water system connections and economic activities. In Ura Settlement, the Ethiopia Electric Utility (EEU) has extended grid connectivity to Ura Site. Connections to the water intake system and Ura Woreda borehole are operational, and work is ongoing to connect the Akuda Tumet Inclusive Health Centre and livelihood facilities.

Economic Inclusion & Agriculture

Policy: Ethiopia strengthend employment rights through the 2024 Directive to Implement Recognized Refugees' and Asylum Seekers' Right to Work. The directive operationalizes the Refugees Proclamation No. 1110/2019, which grants refugees the right to engage in gainful employment under conditions similar to foreign nationals. In December 2023, the Government also pledged to facilitate access to irrigable land through lease arrangements and promotion of climate-smart agriculture and livestock.

Agriculture: Ura and Aftit Settlements are located on arable land. In Ura, the regional government allocated 314 hectares of land for agriculture activities for refugees and hosts. As of August 2026, 200 hectares of land were successfully cleared at the Ura Settlement Cluster Farming Site. Efforts are ongoing to start programming for the next farming season.

Economic inclusion: Access to documentation and Fayda IDs are expanding financial inclusion, as refugees can open bank accounts and access business licenses. Additional interventions are required to strengthen self-reliance, including support for small businesses and service delivery, vocational training, private sector engagement, and market linkages.

Environment & Climate

Investments in environment and climate change adaptation are critical to ensuring the protection of environmental resources that are shared with the host community and to reducing conflict. This includes the protection of existing vegetation and afforestation programs, and natural resource management. Specific investments include nursery production and management, multi-purpose tree planting, environmental stewardship through, e.g., crop rotation, and physical and biological erosion control structures to reduce environmental hazards.