Hargeisa, Jun 29, 2009 (Somalilandcurrent) — World refugee day took place in Somaliland on June 20th at the Ethiopian refugee center. The celebration proceedings were opened by Somaliland Vice Minister of Resettlement, Mr Abdilhamid Garad who said, “I am happy to be with you on this occasion, this is not the first time I participate in these festivities, I have taken part in your celebrations on two previous occasions and I am hoping it will be as interesting and wonderful as the last.”

Ministers, officials from UNHCR and other international NGOs as well as ordinary citizens enjoyed songs, dances and cuisines by Ethiopia’s various ethnic groups who reside in Somaliland.

The head of UNHCR, Mr Abdoulaye Barry, gave a long speech in which he talked among other things about what the UNHCR does to help the refugees. He also revealed that the UNHCR has appealed to other countries to accept the refugees in Somalialnd in their own countries.
Certificates were awarded to number of winners from competitions in  tennis and basketball games.

A Large number of refugees from Ethiopia live in Somaliland mainly from the Oromo ethnic group. Many of these groups bring with them rich art from Ethiopia’s diverse culture including hand-crafted, handwoven baskets with vibrant colors of rust, hunter green, cobalt blue, and golden yellow. The Harari women are among the best known for their common-looking grass baskets.

 

1 COMMENT

  1. Harar women are sexy no doubt. I think Somali women going to feel threatened by their presence.

  2. It is really good to see this kinda of connection between this two nations. I think this is a good start to create peace between people of the horn Africa.
    GOD BLESS OUR PEOPLE.

  3. i attended world refugee day in hargeisa and it was NOT at the ethiopian center, but the social welfare center, so whoever wrote this (it was also in somaliland times) clearly did not attend, and just ripped off someone else's picture.

  4. “….these two nations”.
    Amazing, what is your definition of a nation?. Have you ever looked the word nation from a dictionary?.
    A few bitter and angery thousands of people do not constitute a nation, call yourself Somaliland or whatever but be knowledgeable of what you intend to say.

    It also shows how Ethiopians under TPLF are desperate enough to reside in Hargheisa whose own people are found in every corner of the world seeking refuge for themselves.

    Let us hope for better days and leaders for the unfortunate people of the Horn of Africa.

  5. Ali, the only one who is bitter and angry appears to be you!..and it is Hargeisa or Hargeysa, not Hargheisa, be knowledgeable of what you intend to say.

    And for your personal education, Somaliland is a nation.

  6. Kariye,

    I honestly don’t mind if would educate me on anything you know better than me.

    As for your town’s spelling, I can produce more than a dozen of official bodies spelling the way I did.

    I would be interested ,though, in knowing how you define a nation and relate that to your so called “Somaliland nation”.
    And I hope your definition would fit the internationally accepted norm of nationhood instead of wild desire and hallucinations by some nation wannabes.