In response to a recent BBC report, the Refugee and Returnees Service (RRS) in Ethiopia has addressed the issue of birth certificates not being issued to new-born babies born to Eritrean refugee parents.
The parents have expressed their concerns that this situation is obstructing the process of family reunification.
The RRS called the claims “a baseless allegation”.
“Registration is going on since November 2022 and 2,149 Eritrean children are registered,” it said in a statement.
However, the statement from the Refugee and Returnees Service (RRS) did not clarify whether they are currently issuing the birth certificate documents that the families require.
A man residing in Germany shared with the BBC that he has been anxiously awaiting the opportunity to reunite with his wife and children.
The issuance of birth certificates is a necessary requirement by the German embassy in order to proceed with visa applications for the babies.
“I have seen the response from RRS. Our problem is not registration – what we need is the birth certificate document which the German embassy is requesting,” one father said.
Another said: “Our wives have been going to the RRS offices many times for months asking for the birth certificate but still we are waiting despite repeated promises.”