Ethiopia on Monday airlifted more than 1,270 undocumented migrants from Saudi Arabia as part of its renewed repatriation operation to bring back citizens from the Gulf Nation.
The east African nation started bringing its nationals living in difficult situations in the Gulf Nation back on Wednesday, March 30, 2022.
Today, three flights with 1,270 onboard have arrived at Addis Ababa Bole International Airport until midday, said the spokesperson office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia..
Monday’s returnees, mostly women as well as 269 children, came from the city of Jeddah.
To date, the government has repatriated more than 4, 000 citizens from Saudi Arabia. The repatriation push will continue for three days in a week each day involving three flights, said the spokesperson office.
Over 100,000 Ethiopian migrants are expected to be deported to Ethiopia from the gulf nations, with the arrivals starting on 30 March 2022.
The government has already set up temporary shelters where they will stay for at least 24-hours and receive assistance including food, medical help and counseling services with support of partner aid agencies.
However, meeting the needs of the 100,000 returnees could be an enormous challenge, according to the UN migration agency, International Organization for Migration (IOM).
MG/abj/APA