Ethiopia Reaffirms Refugee Commitment, Calls for Shared Global Responsibility at UNHCR Session

Addis Ababa, October 7, 2025 (FMC) — Ethiopia has urged the international community to strengthen global solidarity and ensure fair responsibility-sharing in addressing refugee challenges during the 76th Session of the UNHCR Executive Committee in Geneva.

Represented by Ms. Teyiba Hassen, Director General of the Refugees and Returnees Service (RRS), Ethiopia underlined the growing strain it faces as host to more than 1.1 million refugees — one of the largest refugee populations in the world.

The Ethiopian Permanent Mission in Geneva told Fana Media Corporation that the country has recently experienced a surge of emergency arrivals from South Sudan, many of whom reached Ethiopia with minimal international support.

“This year has been one of the most difficult,” Ms. Teyiba said, noting that while humanitarian needs continue to rise, international funding has dropped to critically low levels. “The gap between resources and needs is widening, threatening the hard-earned progress we have achieved,” she added.

Despite the mounting pressures, Ethiopia reaffirmed its steadfast commitment to the 1951 Refugee Convention and the principles of international protection.

The country also called on member states to renew their commitment to equitable responsibility-sharing, emphasizing that no single nation should bear the burden alone.

The 76th Session of the UNHCR Executive Committee, which runs from October 6 to 10, is being chaired by Ethiopia’s Permanent Representative to the UN Offices and International Organizations in Geneva and Vienna Ambassador Tsegab Kebebew.

The Mission added that deliberations on key agenda items are set to continue throughout the week.