| Abstract: | Ethiopia is host to the second largest refugee population in Africa with over 735,204 refugees from
nineteen countries, the majority originating from neighboring South Sudan, Somalia, Eritrea and
Sudan. Most of these refugees reside within the Gambella Region, while new arrivals have been
relocated to the Benishangul-Gumuz Region to ease the pressure on Gambella. Education,
employment opportunities and access to water are three major challenges refugees in Ethiopia face
today. Conflicts are often seen within refugee camps making it challenging not only for refugees
and even host communities but also for humanitarian aid workers to effectively implement their
projects. Therefore, the aim of the study is to show the role of humanitarian organizations to
ensure peaceful co-existence between refugees and host communities in the case of Bambsi and
Jewi refugee camps.
The study employed a qualitative research method to get in-depth insight of the study and used
explanatory research design to carry out the study. Purposive sampling technique was used where
15 participants were selected and all of which are employees of Lutheran World Federation as it
is the selected study organization. The method of data collection includes in-depth interview, key
informant interviews and observation. The data’s collected were then analyzed thematically by
following the basic qualitative study procedures.
The study identified the intervention methods used by Lutheran World Federation to tackle such
conflicts and bring peaceful co-existence between refugees and host communities, how effective
the intervention methods are and the sustainability of those interventions. Implementing the 70/30
method where 70% of their beneficiaries would always be refugees while 30% will be from host
community came out as one of the most effective and significant intervention method to tackle
conflict related issues sustaining within the camps. The study also ensured the effectiveness of the
interventions and their sustainability.
Finally, conclusion and possible recommendations were included. Making individual based
psycho-social support, making the Community-Based Psycho-Social (CBPS) Approach more
intentional, creating more viable economic opportunity, and focusing on gender and gender based
violence were among the recommendations included. |
