Addis ababa: Representatives of the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), World Food Programme (WFP), and the US Embassy's Refugee Coordinator of Population, Refugees, and Migration, along with officials and staff members of the Refugees and Returnees Service, participated in a seedling planting event in Addis Ababa today.
According to Ethiopian News Agency, UNHCR Assistant Representative for Protection in Ethiopia, David Karp, expressed his enthusiasm for joining Ethiopia's Green Legacy Initiative for the second time. He highlighted the initiative as a fantastic and enjoyable experience, emphasizing its role in showcasing unity and fulfilling the pledge made at the Global Refugee Forum 2023 to plant trees. The initiative is seen as crucial in addressing the environmental damage caused by hosting refugees in the country. Karp also revealed that funding has been allocated to support seedling planting in refugee camps across Ethiopia, reaffirming UNHCR's commitment to work with the Ethiopian government in reducing the environmental impact of refugees.
World Food Programme Deputy Country Director Kevin Hodgson echoed this sentiment, emphasizing WFP's support for the Green Legacy Initiative and the importance of such natural solutions in tackling climate change. Hodgson reiterated WFP's dedication to supporting future seedling planting events under the initiative.
Deputy Regional Refugee Coordinator of Population, Refugees, and Migration at the US Embassy, Andrew Ellis, highlighted Ethiopia's shift towards renewable energy and the broader benefits of tree planting for Africa. He commended Ethiopia's efforts to enhance the environment through the Green Legacy Initiative, noting the role of increased vegetation in mitigating the effects of fossil fuels.
Refugees and Returnees Service (RRS) Deputy Director-General Mulualem Desta detailed RRS's involvement in planting seedlings as part of the Green Legacy Initiative across the country's 26 refugee camps. He emphasized the initiative's significance in mitigating the environmental impact of hosting refugees and reiterated the government's pledge to plant one hundred million seedlings around refugee-hosting areas by 2027. Mulualem noted the encouraging support from development partners, including UN agencies and civil society, and announced plans to plant five million seedlings during the current rainy season.