Close to 20,000 Ethiopians repatriated home from Saudi Arabia in five weeks

Addis Ababa, December 30, 2022 (FBC) Close to 20,000 Ethiopians, living under difficult conditions in Saudi Arabia have been repatriated over the past five weeks alone.

According to the Ministry of Women and Social Affairs, Since November 12, 2022 up to December 30, 2022 more than 20 thousand Ethiopians have returned to their home country from Saudi Arabia.

Ministry of Women and Social Affairs disclosed that 421 citizens who were suffering from difficult conditions in Saudi Arabia returned to their Home country from Saudi Arabia yesterday.

It is stated that 19 thousand 689 men, 2 thousand 673 women and 724 children and minors under the age of 18 are among the returnees.

It has been pointed out that the work of repatriating citizens has been strengthened and that reunification with families is being done by giving proper support and care to the returnees in the detention centers.

Ministry of Women and Social Affairs indicates that reunification of the returnees with their families is being done by providing appropriate support and care in makeshift centers.

It is to be recalled that the Government of Ethiopia is working to repatriate over 102,000 Ethiopians who are in dire situation in Saudi Arabia.

A national committee composed of various government agencies has been established to facilitate the repatriation process.

The previous round of repatriation has achieved 70 percent of the target by repatriating 71,697 citizens in 198 flights.

By: Yonathan Yoseph