Ethiopia: Forced Relocations Bring Hunger, Hardship – Passion of the Present

The Ethiopian government under its “villagization” program is forcibly relocating approximately 70,000 indigenous people from the western Gambella region to new villages that lack adequate food, farmland, healthcare, and educational facilities. State security forces have repeatedly threatened, assaulted, and arbitrarily arrested villagers who resist the transfers.

(London) – The Ethiopian government under its “villagization” program is forcibly relocating approximately 70,000 indigenous people from the western Gambella region to new villages that lack adequate food, farmland, healthcare, and educational facilities, Human Rights Watch said in a report released today.