Kunama refugees

The United States has agreed to resettle a group of Kunama refugees
who have been living in Ethiopian refugee camps since fleeing their homes
in rural Eritrea more than 6 years ago. The refugees, who live in Shimelba
Refugee Camp near the Eritrean border, are not able to return safely to
their homes in Eritrea and cannot settle permanently in Ethiopia. As a
result, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
referred more than 1,200 of them—out of a total Kunama population in
the camp of 4,000—to the United States for resettlement consideration.
The rest of the Kunama refugees in Shimelba—about 2,800 individuals—
chose not be included in the UNHCR referral.
This Backgrounder provides Reception and Placement (R&P) agency
staff and others assisting refugee newcomers with an overview of the
Kunama to help them prepare for the refugees’ arrival and resettlement
needs. The Backgrounder looks at the experiences of the Kunama in
Eritrea, their lives in Shimelba Refugee Camp, and their cultural practices
and preferences.
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