ASSESSMENTS ON CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES OF URBAN REFUGEE LIVELIHOODS FROM THE GREAT LAKES REGION IN ADDIS ABABA

Abstract

In Ethiopia, particularly in Addis Ababa, there are many urban refugees from the Great Lakes Region. Addis Ababa is their first priority area to live compared to other cities in Ethiopia because it is the capital city of Ethiopia and is the center for national as well as international organizations. Urban refugees have different kinds of livelihood challenges and opportunities and this research examines it. In order to achieve the objectives of the research, descriptive type of research which is led by qualitative approach was employed. In-depth interview, key informant interview and document review were the central data collection techniques. For the study, refugees living in Yeka Abado, Bole Bulbula, Bole Arabsa and Jemmo areas were selected based on the prolonged settlement of the refugees in the respective areas. The finding of the study shows that there are several socio-cultural and economic challenges urban refuges have been facing: high cost of living, problem of cultural adaptability like language barriers, refugee‟s low self-esteem, psychological instability and mobility, economic crises, conflict, security challenges, violence, theft and robbery. This research also indicates that availability of supportive policy frameworks can be considered as a good opportunity for GLR refugees for self-reliance. Moreover, this research revealed that urban refugees have both negative and positive impacts for the hosting community. The positive impacts include transfer of knowledge and skills, influence better work habits, contribute for labor market in some sectors which Ethiopians cannot, and inject foreign currency into the market. The negative impacts burdened on the hosting community are aggravated the price of rental house, increase unemployment rate, injects deviant behavior such as addiction, conflict and violence. Finally, this research concludes that urban refugee‟s livelihood strategy is vulnerable for risk and shock as the result of less sustainable nature of their means of income.