ADDIS ABABA, April 14 (Xinhua) -- The Ethiopian government has announced the repatriation of more than 15,680 nationals stranded in difficult conditions abroad over the past month.
In a statement issued late Sunday, the Ministry of Women and Social Affairs said the returnees were brought home as part of a renewed national initiative to assist Ethiopians facing hardship overseas. A total of 15,684 citizens were repatriated during the one-month period.
The East African country launched the latest round of repatriation on March 12, aiming to return home over 50,000 nationals, primarily those trapped in difficult circumstances across various Middle Eastern countries.
Most of the returnees were undocumented migrants living illegally in foreign countries, the ministry said. Over the past week alone, more than 3,360 Ethiopians were repatriated from Saudi Arabia on nine separate flights. Among them were minors under the age of 18.
In recent years, Ethiopia has stepped up its efforts to repatriate citizens stranded abroad, particularly in the Middle East. Beyond repatriation, the government is focusing on preventive strategies, including cracking down on human trafficking networks and expanding domestic economic opportunities. Many low-income Ethiopians risk illegal migration in search of better livelihoods overseas. ■
