RRS is an Ethiopian government representative for coordinating country-level refugee assistance & protection programs. Its head office based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. 

Organizational Structure

General Overview

RRS in collaboration with the UNHCR works in ensuring that the rights of refugees and persons seeking asylum are protected. We mainstream a protection perspective throughout all stages of refugee program including at all levels of camp existence from planning, setup and camp closure as a responsibility of all including local government structures, partners working in the camp, camp management and refugees. When selecting a camp, protection become crucial as a camp site must be at a certain distance from border and conflict areas. All our refugee camps are located in a reasonable and safe distance from border areas.
The Government of Ethiopia is currently providing Refugee Protection services to refugees of more than 21 nationalities based on the 1951 UN Refugee Convention and its 1967 Protocol, the 1969 OAU convention as well as its own refugee law enacted in 2004. Prima facie as well as individual screening and registration/recognition is given to refugees mainly originating from South Sudan, Somalia, Eritrea, the Sudan, Yemen, the Great Lakes Region where UNHCR  has an observer status.

RRS in collaboration with federal and regional law enforcement bodies assumes the primary responsibility to guarantee the refugee population’s safety and protection. The responsibility of maintaining a civilian and humanitarian character in a refugee camp lies with RRS, with the support, where necessary, of UNHCR and other partners.

Special services are also put in place for refugee with special needs including people with disabilities, unaccompanied and separated children, victims of sexual abuse, the elderly despite limited resources to cater the best to such vulnerable refugees.

Registration is primarily the responsibility of RRS representing government of Ethiopia. Due to limitation in operational capacity, however, to maintain a functioning registration system, UNHCR keeps the database of each individual refugee living in the country and that both UNHCR and RRS ensure records are updated regularly.

Registration of a refugee profile helps us a lot in the administration and provision of services. RRS together with UNHCR undertakes regular registration of refugee figures. The characteristics of population (gender and age breakdowns, the number and type groups with special needs etc.) help all partners involved in refuge services to determine whether to add or modify programmes to maximize assistance.

Operation Overview