Ethiopians Repatriated from Saudi Arabia Reaches Nears 25, 000

Ethiopians Repatriated from Saudi Arabia Reaches Nearly 25, 000

ADDIS ABEBA – A total of 1, 022 Ethiopian nationals arrived at Addis Ababa international airport Wednesday as the government continues repatriating citizens from Saudi Arabia.

At least 108 women and nine children were among today’s arrivals, announced the ministry of Women and Social Affairs.

The remaining 905 are male, it added. They have been detained in the gulf nation for illegal entry.

Authorities launched the ongoing repatriating push on March 30 with a plan to bring 102,000 Ethiopians, who are living in dire situations inside Saud’s detention centers, back to their home country.

To date, nearly 25, 000 Ethiopians have been brought back to their country, according to the ministry.

The effort to repatriate Ethiopians will continue for the next six months, officials said. It involves three flights a day for three days every week.

An estimated 750,000 Ethiopians currently reside in Saudi Arabia. About 450,000 of them are likely to have traveled to the gulf nation through irregular means, reports say.