Ethiopia repatriates 33,000 citizens in six months
Ethiopia has brought back 33,000 of its citizens who were living in harsh conditions abroad over the past six months, the government has said.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs called the effort part of a “citizen-first” plan to help Ethiopians in trouble outside the country. Many of those brought back were struggling in dangerous situations.
One of the most serious cases involves 380 Ethiopians in Myanmar who according to officials were tricked by illegal brokers with fake job promises in Southeast Asia.
Local reports indicate that they were taken to camps near the border of Myanmar and Thailand, where conditions were very poor upon arrival.
The Ethiopian government recently rescued 34 people from these camps and moved them to safety in Thailand before bringing them home. Officials said it was a tough operation and they are working with embassies in Japan and India to help more people.
The ministry further added that human trafficking networks are involved in these cases. Ethiopia is working with other countries, including Myanmar, to tackle the issue.
In recent years, Ethiopia has worked hard to repatriate citizens, especially from the Middle East. Many were undocumented migrants facing harsh treatment. Recently, 164 Ethiopians were brought home from Lebanon due to growing insecurity.
The government is also working on ways to stop illegal migration, such as breaking up trafficking networks and creating more jobs in Ethiopia.
