Addis Ababa is the capital of Ethiopia. Over 100,000 Ethiopian migrants will be repatriated to Ethiopia from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) as part of an agreement reached between the governments of Ethiopia and KSA, with arrivals beginning on 30 March 2022. Ethiopia’s International Airport in the capital, Addis Ababa, received about 900 migrants today. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) workers aided and registered the returnees, including mothers with young children, and provided, among other things, food, temporary lodging, medical assistance, and counseling services. Upon their return, the refugees will be met with humanitarian support and protection services from government authorities, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and other partners. IOM and other partners will face a huge task in servicing the needs of the 100,000 refugees who have returned to the country. Pregnant and nursing women, the elderly, and those with physical issues, including mental health disorders, have all been part of previous Ethiopian migrations returning from Saudi Arabia.
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) is working closely with the Ethiopian government and its international partners as the country continues to accept thousands of Saudi Arabian refugees. Essential services including medical treatment, food, shelter, and psychosocial support, as well as specialized protection services, must be provided to returnees in order to alleviate their immediate needs, dangers, and vulnerabilities and allow them to return home safely and in dignity. Efforts by Ethiopia’s government to improve the return of its citizens from abroad, as well as their rehabilitation, will continue. Consular Affairs Directorate General official at Ethiopia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs stressed the importance of involving important partners in the planning and operationalization of this goal. International Organization for Migration’s (IOM) humanitarian support and protection services are in line with the Regional Migrant Response Plan for the Horn of Africa and Yemen, 2022. The MRP aims to address the needs of migrants in vulnerable situations and host communities in countries located along the Eastern Migratory Route, between the Horn of Africa and Yemen, thanks to the generous financial support of the US State Department’s Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration; the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency; and the European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations..
