By Tesfa-Alem Tekle
December 1, 2013 (ADDIS ABABA) – The number of illegal Ethiopian immigrants returning home from Saudi Arabia has more than doubled from initial projections, the ministry of foreign affairs said on Sunday.
After Saudi Arabia recently launched a crackdown against illegal immigrants, some 23,000 Ethiopians surrendered to police and Addis Ababa projected that they would have to repatriate some 30,000 undocumented citizens who had been working in the oil-rich state illegally.
However, the ministry said citizens are returning in unexpectedly large numbers forcing the East African nation to double its daily flights between to Saudi Arabia and Ethiopian capital from six to 12 so as to hasten the repatriation operation.
"Although we first projected to bring back home maximum 30,000 but citizens seeking return is increasing" foreign ministry spokesman Ambassador Dina Mufti told Sudan Tribune
.
"The number of Ethiopians flown home has so far reached 70,000 since Ethiopia began the repatriation operation on November 13th" Mufti added.
Mufti said the government hasn’t yet assessed the amount of money it is spending on the repatriation operation.
Speaking to Sudan Tribune, an aviation official estimated the cost to be around $25 million.
Officials said if the ongoing mass airlift continues at this pace, the number of returnees - who are mostly women - could hit 100,000 in the coming few days.
Mufti said the exact figure of Ethiopian expatriates in Saudi awaiting repatriation is hard to verify as they are being sheltered in dozens of different temporary holding centers and as a result it has been very difficult to easily identify them.
Despite fund constraints IOM said it is also assisting thousands of the returnees by providing accommodation, food, water, and transportation money to reunite with their relatives in different parts of the regions.
According to IOM representative in Addis Ababa, Alemayehu Seifeselassie,the organization needs some $ 4.5 million to provide sufficient support considering the increasing number of arrivals.
Following the labour crack down, three Ethiopian citizens were killed in clashes with Saudi police.
Saudi Police carried out the crackdown after migrant workers failed to legalise their status within the seven-month amnesty period given by the Kingdom.
Earlier last month, the Saudi government endorsed a new law that forces migrants to have legal work permits and sponsors or face jail and deportation, a move that led to worldwide criticism by human right groups.
Eritrean political refugees are also victims of the new law.
Eritrean political activist, Amdetsion Bereket, told Sudan Tribune that Saudi Arabia’s move, particularly against Eritreans, violates international laws on refugees and the Kingdom to reconsider.
The Red Sea nation which has zero-tolerance for dissent, considers anyone who flees the country as disloyal and often issue hefty punishments if they return.
(ST)
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