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- ECHO Daily flash of 12/12/2018

The newly formed Ethiopian Ministry of Peace has decided that all remaining Internally Displaced People (IDPs) in Gedeo (SNNP region) and Guji (Oromia region) should return to their places of origin by 14th of December 2018. This affects the IDPs in Gedeo zone, officially estimated at 140 000, but also to sites of ‘secondary displacement’ in West Guji. Returnees there have gathered in collective centres, instead of their homes and farms, due to prevailing insecurity.
Numerous recent reports indicate that pressure on IDPs has been increasing. In this context of intimidation, significant movement of IDPs has been observed in West Guji, some attempting to reach Gedeo zone again. Several incidents of violence have already been reported.
Due to inter-communal violence in Gedeo - Guji zones, over 900 000 people have been displaced since April 2018. In mid-August, the government organised large scale returns leading to secondary displacement. IDPs were told that they wouldn’t receive assistance and humanitarian access was restricted.
DG ECHO is very concerned by the announced closure of IDP sites and worried that their return is premature and does not respect the principles of voluntary, informed, safe and dignified returns and puts vulnerable people at further risk.