More than 65,000 Ethiopians returned home from Saudi Arabia since March

Addis Ababa, August 18, 2022 (FBC) – National Coordinating Council for Prevention and Suppression of Trafficking in Person and Smuggling of Migrants is holding its annual summit in the presence of Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister Demeke Mekonnen.

The National Coordinating Council reviewed its performances during the concluded Ethiopian fiscal year. In its report, the Council announced that it has carried out a range of activities to rehabilitate citizens returned from Saudi Arabia. Some ten makeshift camps have been arranged in Addis Ababa for the returnees, according to the Council.

Council stated that 65, 446 Ethiopians have been repatriated from Saudi Arabia since March of whom 62,978 have been reinstated to their families. Out of the total returnees, 3,119 are from families in Tigray, and are currently receiving all the necessary support in camps, it is stated.

Closure of Overseas Employment agencies due to the unprecedented outbreak of Covid 19 pandemic has exacerbated smuggling of migrants from the country, the Council said, pushing for concerted efforts to tackle the problem.