Over 1, 050 Ethiopian Migrants Return Home from Saudi Arabia

ADDIS ABABA – More than 1, 050 Ethiopians migrants have returned home from Saudi Arabia on Monday as the government continues its repatriation push this week.

Today, the Ministry of Women and Social Affairs said three planes have arrived at Addis Ababa Bole International Airport, bringing a total of 1, 053 Ethiopians back home.

At least 209 women and 43 children are among the Ethiopians repatriated today, the ministry added.

Authorities started the repatriation effort started a month ago with a plan to bring back at least 102,000 Ethiopians living in difficult situations in the Gulf nation.

To date, the nation has brought over 17, 000 its nationals from Saudi Arabia where they were detained for illegal entry.

The ongoing repatriation process is led by a national committee composed of 16 government agencies. The Committee has scheduled three flights a day for three days in a week to repatriate citizens within six months.