Ethiopia repatriates over 16,000 citizens from Saudi Arabia
By Tesfa-Alem Tekle
November 23, 2013 (ADDIS ABABA) – Ethiopia on Saturday said it has stepped up the repatriation operation to thousands of Ethiopians who had been working illegally in Saudi Arabia.
Officials at the Ethiopian Foreign Affairs Ministry told Sudan Tribune that so far 16,248 Ethiopians have been brought back from Saudi Arabia since the government began repatriating citizens last week.
The Ethiopian government says the safe return of its citizens is its current top priority.
Three Ethiopians were allegedly killed by Saudi police in a clash after a clampdown against tens of thousands of undocumented Ethiopian migrants.
Dozens of other Ethiopians were also injured during the crackdown which was condemned by the Ethiopian government and many international right groups.
Addis Ababa has urged Saudi authorities to probe the killings of the three Ethiopians.
Ethiopians in different parts of the globe have been protesting against the targeted atrocities on Ethiopians living in the Gulf kingdom.
Following the crackdown, some 23,000 Ethiopians surrendered to Saudi authorities to voluntarily return home after arrangements were made between Ethiopian embassy in Riyadh and the Saudi government.
There are an estimated 40,000 Ethiopians illegally working in the wealthy oil-rich nation.
Officials said today that the flights between Addis Ababa and to Saudi Arabia have been doubles to 12 flights a day to speed up the repatriation.
A national task force has been established to help the returnees reunite with their families. Ethiopia’s regional governments have pledged to create job opportunities for the returnees.
The government has allocated some $2.6 million for programmes to assist with the rehabilitation of the returnees.
There are some nine million migrant workers in Saudi Arabia among whom an estimated five million do not have work permits.
Saudi authorities launched the clampdown on illegal migrants earlier this month in the hope that it will create job opportunities for native citizens. Unemployment rate among native Saudis stands at 12%.
The Ethiopia recently imposed a ban on workers travelling abroad until a firm legal structure that ensures the rights and safety of citizens is secured with foreign nations, particularly Arab countries.
(ST)