Ethopia: Families of detained Eritrean refugees allege ransom demands of up to half a million Birr, prolonged detention in Amhara

Addis Abeba– Families of five Eritrean refugees detained for over two months in North Gondar Zone of the Amhara region allege they are being pressured to pay ransoms of up to 500,000 Ethiopian Birr for their release.

The families said the detainees had been residing in Alemwach Refugee Camp in Dabat town before their arrests. Speaking to VOA, they reported receiving phone calls from unidentified individuals demanding payments ranging from 100,000 to 500,000 Birr.

One family member, speaking anonymously, stated that her husband was…