Community & Social Services in Ura Settlement

In Ura settlement, there are both Sudanese refugees and South Sudanese asylum seekers who have entered Ethiopia from Sudan through the Kurmuk Transit Center at the border. The Ura population is evenly divided between females and males. Nearly 50% of the population are minors. The population is a mix of rural and urban people, with varying degrees of educational backgrounds and skills training. As of February 2025, the top five areas of origin among the Ura population are Khartoum, Blue Nile, Aj Jazirah, Sennar and West Darfur, and all residents cohabitate in zones that are divided among geographical as opposed to ethnic or tribal affiliations. As of November 2024, the ratio of refugees to host community members was 2.5 : 1. However, as the settlement population grows towards the site's absorption capacity of 34,000 individuals, the ratio is expected to shift to 10 : 1, with 91% of the total population being refugees and 9% comprising the native host community.

At the 2023 Global Refugee Forum, the Government of Ethiopia pledged to: 

• Include refugees into national systems, including the national Central Statistics Service (CSS), the national Gender-Based Violence (GBV) prevention and response programs, the National ID Program (NIDP), and national secondary education schools and TVET systems.
• Include refugees in the national digital infrastructure (including vital events registration such as birth, death, marriage and divorce).

Currently, all Sudanese refugees are granted prima facie recognition by the Government of Ethiopia.  Non-Sudanese nationals who cross into Ethiopia through Sudan are considered asylum seekers. RRS has approved the relocation of both refugees and asylum seekers from Sudan to reside in Ura Refugee Site.

In Assosa, RRS and UNHCR have prepared the groundwork to commence the biometric registration and issuance of ID cards with FAYDA numbers under the National ID Programme, following which all refugees and asylum seekers age 5 and above will be issued a FAYDA number, while all those above the age of 14 will receive ID cards.

1. Provide of 7,400 improved cookstoves to refugee and host community households (1 cookstove per household of up to 8 people) to increase efficiency, as well as explore alternative fuels such as bamboo or agricultural residues available in the vicinity. In the longer term, provide clean cooking options such as liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) or electric cooking powered by renewable energy sources. 

2. Establish a nursery site at Ura settlement to allow for fast-growing tree plantations for a renewable wood supply, in line with the Forest Landscape Management Plan. Cooperatives for managing energy systems and conservation programs are established and include both refugee and host communities.

3. Connect Ura settlement to the national grid while enhancing the existing electrical infrastructure to minimize outages and ensure a more reliable supply. Once the grid connection is available through the different zones and blocks, a communal kitchen hall should be established for households to make use of the center for their daily power needs. 

4. Establish mini grids powered by renewable energy sources, such as solar, to provide a stable energy supply. These mini grids can be interconnected with the national grid, strengthening the overall system and providing backup during grid interruptions. 

5. Connect all schools and health centres to quality solar systems. 

6. Establish solar streetlights within the Ura settlement, which improve security and reduce GBV cases.

7. Install Solar Home Systems (SHS) to all refugee households. 

8. Establish a waste management system that includes a landfill.

9. Create a reafforestation program to cover the exposed land use in the Ura watershed catchment, in line with the Forest Landscape Management Plan.

10. Establish disaster preparedness groups involving refugee and host communities and practice required anticipatory actions.

Vision Statement: Refugees and members of the host community benefit from social services including case management and non-specialized mental health services through the Bureau of Women and Social Affairs (BoWSA) and specialized MHPSS through the Health Bureau for vulnerable persons, including GBV survivors/persons at risk, unaccompanied and separated children and other vulnerable children, and persons with specific needs.  In addition, refugees and host communities live in safety, enjoying peaceful relations through joint community structures and recreational/civic spaces. 

Access to documentation such as national ID cards, and vital events registration documents, for all refugees and asylum seekers, which will promote safety/security of refugees as well as access to services (e.g. telecom, financial services)

A fully equipped police station ensures the safety and stability of both the host community and the refugee settlement. The host community currently lacks a full police station, relying only on a small substation, which is insufficient given the large influx of people into the area. The limited presence of law enforcement is inadequate to meet the growing security needs, especially with the increasing population putting additional pressure on existing resources. 

Promoting access to mobile courts helps to bring justice closer to both refugee and host communities for all people in need. This helps in promoting a more efficient judicial system. 

Through systems strengthening, capacitate the BoWSA to deliver fully government-run GBV prevention and response services (vehicles, personnel and technical capacity building), child protection services (including child-care placements and best interest procedures) and services for persons with specific needs. 

A Peace Committees/Neighbourhood Relations Committee to promote dialogue and conflict resolution between refugees and host communities. Public recreational, religious and community spaces play a crucial role in fostering social cohesion and supporting the integration process between refugees and host communities. The strategic enhancement of these areas would not only improve the quality of life for residents but also provide opportunities for community engagement, cultural exchange, and shared ownership. With proper planning, investment, and community involvement, these spaces can become key assets for both social integration and urban development, strengthening the overall resilience and inclusivity of the settlement.

Social networks and community participation play a vital role in the settlement, with various organizations and groups actively contributing to the community's social fabric. Women’s groups, youth organizations, and the Refugee Central Committee (RCC) provide platforms for collective action, advocacy, and support within the community.  These groups not only empower their members but also strengthen overall social cohesion by fostering trust and collaboration. The good relations between different groups and the wider community reflect a strong sense of unity and mutual support, which are essential for maintaining a harmonious and resilient settlement. 

• Number of refugees/asylum seekers issued National ID Cards and VERA documents
• For GBV and CP response, community impact would be measured through client satisfaction surveys, monitoring of numbers of users of Safe House and One Stop Centre, individuals provided with case management and non-specialized MHPSS. For GBV prevention, projects like Zero Tolerance Villages for both the refugee and host community can be instrumental in making and demonstrating impact 

• Number of joint recreational activities and Peace Committee meetings between refugee and host communities; assessment of community relations through annual participatory assessments

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• BoWSA in Ura Woreda to be capacitated in terms of infrastructure and systems, including data management, technical expertise and a hotline
• A fully integrated center for women and children (including survivors/at risk persons) in Akuda/Ura 
• A fully operational emergency Safe House for GBV survivors and children at risk in Akuda/Ura (currently, the only Safe House is in Homosha and has limited capacity)
• Expansion of the Health Center to serve as One-Stop Centre for GBV response services
• At least one Youth Centre in Akuda/Ura with indoor and outdoor facilities, including for sports and an ICT lab/library accessible to both refugee and host community youth. This centre can also offer a meeting space for other community-led initiatives, such as Peace Committees
• Capacity building of law enforcement facilities and mobile courts