Addis Ababa, October 9, 2020 (FBC) –Ethiopia and the International Organization for Migration (IOM), today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen return and reintegration assistance to thousands of Ethiopian migrants returning home due to COVID-19.
The $1million project will provide cash grants and other forms of support to over 8,000 returning migrants, according to a release issued by the Organization.
The grants will enable returnees to provide food, clothing and other essential items for themselves.
Nearly 34,000 migrants have returned to Ethiopia since the outbreak of COVID-19.
Priority will be given to vulnerable migrants including victims of trafficking, those disabled, people with medical conditions, and single-headed households.
The agreement was signed by Dr. Ergogie Tesfaye, Ethiopia’s Minister of the Labour and Social Affairs and Maureen Achieng, Chief of Mission, IOM Ethiopia and Representative to the African Union and United Nations Economic Commission for Africa.
More than 550,000 Ethiopian migrants are expected to return from Gulf countries, due to COVID-19, according to the Government of Ethiopia.