Economic interaction between Urban Eritrean Refugees and Host Community in Addis Ababa: Case Study from Bole Sub-city
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Date
2024-10-01
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Addis Abeba Universty
Abstract
This study examined the economic interaction between the Eritrean refugees and the host community within Bole Sub city of Addis Ababa, focusing on both the challenges and opportunities arising from these interactions. Being a cosmopolitan city, there are many Eritrean refugees residing in and around Addis Ababa who are actively participating in informal sectors such as working as hairdressers, in services and small businesses that assists the local community and refugees themselves. The study was qualitative and included techniques such as in-depth interviews of the refugees and members of the host communities as well as key informants from the service providers drew insights into the many ways that refugees are integrated into the urban economy. The results indicate that, many Eritrean refugees demonstrate resilience through skillful employment yet, there are some sections of the host community who appreciate the presence of the refugees. Others hold contradictory opinions such as about competition for jobs and other resources. The study also addresses the issues of restricted access to financial services such as bank and credit facilities by refugees due to legal and institutional barriers such as work permits and formal identification documents. Nonetheless, this research was able to pinpoint some of the coping mechanisms that the refugees employ to overcome such challenges, including the establishment of informal networks with host community members, as well as the employment of community networks for resource mobilization.
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