1,471 Somali refugees repatriated

 Jijiga, 16 June (ENA)--Some 1,471 Somali refugees who had been taking a save haven at a refugee camp in Somali State were repatriated to their home country on Friday, the Security, Refugees and Immigration Authority said.

  The Eastern region refugees and returnees program coordinating office head with the authority, Tsegaye Mehiretu, told ENA on Friday that the Somali refugees were repatriated to their homeland on voluntary basis.

  The returnees were provided with a nine-month ration, money, plastic sheeting and household utensils, the head said.

  He said another group of 20,000 Somali refugees would be repatriated within the next 15 days.

 Some 138,000 of the 282,203 Somali refugees taking sanctuary at eight refugee camps in Eastern Ethiopia have been repatriated to their country, Tsegaye said.

 (END)