ADDIS ABABA, Jan. 16 (Xinhua) — The Ethiopian authorities has repatriated about 33,000 nationals dealing with dire circumstances in varied international nations over the previous six months, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs introduced Thursday.
Nebiat Getachew, spokesperson for the ministry, mentioned that the continued large-scale repatriation effort is a part of the Ethiopian authorities’s “citizen-centered” diplomatic dedication to bringing residence its nationals stranded in tough conditions overseas, based on state-affiliated Fana Broadcasting Corporate.
Getachew mentioned the repatriated people had been “facing dire circumstances in various countries” in the course of the first half of the present Ethiopian 2024/2025 fiscal 12 months that began on July 8.
The spokesperson mentioned a very regarding case includes Ethiopian nationals in Myanmar, the place 380 residents have been recognized in dire circumstances. These people had been misled by unlawful brokers promising employment alternatives in Southeast Asia. Upon arrival, they had been taken to unauthorized camps in areas bordering Myanmar and Thailand, the place circumstances are reportedly extreme.
He mentioned as a part of the federal government’s efforts, some 34 nationals had been free of their “abductors” and transported to security in Thailand earlier than being repatriated to Ethiopia. Acknowledging that the duty of rescuing the kidnapped nationals “requires a lot of effort,” Getachew mentioned the ministry has tasked its diplomatic missions in Tokyo, Japan and New Delhi, India to facilitate the continued efforts.
Getachew emphasised that varied efforts are at present underway to carry again the stranded nationals residence. The repatriation efforts, nevertheless, have been difficult by the truth that the areas the place these people are considered situated aren’t beneath sturdy authorities management.
He additionally highlighted the worldwide felony facets of the difficulty, linked to human trafficking networks. Ethiopia is collaborating with the federal government of Myanmar and different affected nations to deal with the issue.
In latest years, Ethiopia has intensified efforts to repatriate its residents stranded abroad, significantly within the Middle East. A big variety of returnees have been undocumented migrants dealing with hardship in Saudi Arabia. Similarly, the federal government lately repatriated 164 residents from Beirut, Lebanon, amid escalating regional insecurity.
Beyond repatriation, Ethiopia is specializing in preventive measures, together with dismantling human trafficking networks and enhancing home financial alternatives. Many low-income Ethiopians migrate illegally, pushed by hopes of improved residing circumstances overseas.