A recent report by the East African publication revealed that the Ethiopian government is orchestrating the return of roughly 70,000 of its citizens from Saudi Arabia due to their dire living conditions.
State Minister Birtukan Ayano mentioned that this marks the third iteration of such a program since 2018, focusing on Ethiopians facing severe hardships.
Ayano emphasized the need for adequate budgeting, logistics, and shelter arrangements for the returning citizens.
US Assistant Secretary of State Julieta Valls Noyes, overseeing the Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration, visited Ethiopia and urged the country, along with other donors, to offer vital support to refugees, particularly those from Sudan, amid ongoing conflict.
Ethiopia currently hosts around 50,000 Sudanese refugees, along with approximately 917,000 refugees from neighboring nations and four million internally displaced individuals due to conflicts and environmental challenges.
Given the nation’s existing challenges, including the aftermath of the Tigray war and the displacement of millions, the repatriation effort will add to the complexity and cost of resettlement, especially considering the ongoing need for infrastructure repair.
