Ethiopia working closely with Saudi officials to repatriate citizens

Addis Ababa, October 2, 2020 (FBC) –Ethiopia said it will continue to work closely with Saudi officials to repatriate its citizens from the world’s leading oil exporter country.

In the first round, the Government of Ethiopia repatriated 3,500 people, who were in a difficult situation following the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In the second round, the country planned to repatriate additional 2,000 people and 964 of them have returned so far, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a statement sent to FBC .

As per a deadline of 90 days set by Riyadh for undocumented migrant workers to leave the country, Ethiopia airlifted up to 400,000 nationals since May 2017.

However, the statement said, there are many Ethiopians who are in a difficult stations as they returned back to Saudi Arabia illegally.

The Ethiopia is working closely with Saudi officials and other international agencies to enable its citizens get the necessary support and dignity in Saudi as well as to repatriate those volunteered migrants.