Noble Park woman secures over $50,000 in crowd-funding to help save an African language

Toltu Tufa has managed to raise over $50,000 to enable the printing of children's books to keep an African language alive. Pictures Angie Basdekis Source: News Limited

A CROWD-FUNDING campaign launched from Noble Park to save an African language ended yesterday with more than $50,000 in the bank.

Called simply Afaan, which means 'language' in Oromo, the month-long campaign to raise $20,000 on pozible.com was the brainchild of Noble Park resident Toltu Tufa.

The 27-year-old, who works in clinical governance at the Royal Women's Hospital at Carlton, will use the money to print 12,000 children's books in the Oromo language, which was banned in parts of East Africa until 1991.

Ms Tufa said the penalty for speaking the language was 10 years in prison, which an Oromo refugee now living in Noble Park had served.

She said genocide cut the Oromo population in half to about 5 million in the late 1800s and for much of last century they faced imprisonment, rape and torture. They now number about 40 million and the language is the fourth most spoken in ­Africa.

Following a three-month tour of nine cities around the world, Ms Tufa launched the campaign a month ago.

It was picked up by Oromo communities in 15 cities including Cairo and ­Washington.

"I knew that there would be interest but I didn't anticipate 15 cities would create their own event," she said.

After leaving Africa because they couldn't speak their own language, Ms Tufa said the expatriate community now wanted to preserve it as part of their heritage.

"You can imagine what would happen if English was banned. What would you do? What would you say? What would you read? Where would you work?" she said.

<b>Details:</b> afaan.com.au

=>heraldsun

Oromo as a victim of hate crime at homeland and abroad

By Hara Olani | December 15, 2013

In its broad meaning, hate crime is a category of crime used to describe bias-motivated violence: “assault, injury and murder on the basis of certain personal or group characteristics that include different appearance, different color, different religion, different nationality, different identity, etc.

For more than a century, the Oromo in Ethiopian empire specifically targeted and injured, killed, forced to flee their homeland, and even continuously abused verbally abroad by Ethiopian politicians, media, activists, and individuals that think being a true Ethiopian is being denying oneself’s identity.

Since the Oromo nation failed under Abyssinian oppression, the hate towards Oromo are planned, politically motivated and kept in place by the successive regimes that ruled that empire and including the current TPLF lead killer regime. 

In a meaning to hate crime, Oromo are targeted and still a target of hate crime in a meaning more than their personal characteristics, appearance, color, nationality, language and religion. Oromo are a victim of hate crime in a Ethiopian related identity just because of what they are. This showed again and again openly and the fresh “I am Oromo first” sentence created anger and violence from narrow minded Ethiopians who used to disrespect Oromo.

As racist anti-black bias was the most frequently reported hate crime motivation in the USA even in 2011 for example, for more than a century long time frame being an Oromo is just away to be abused verbally by non-disciplined Ethiopians and to the worst killed, tortured, and disappeared by regimes that ruled the empire one after the other including the current once.

A serious hate crime against oromo in Ethiopia is clearly motivated by racial and it is involving violence. It is happening for long and continued today with out certain limits. It is more sad that the Oromo nation that is a back bone of that old empire but yet the identity of the Oromo people’s identity kept denied by narrow minded Ethiopians who deny the truth behind Oromo nation and the make up of the Ethiopian Empire. The hate crime against innocent Oromo caused social unrest, and a significant and wide-ranging psychological consequences on Oromo, not only upon the direct victim but also on other oppressed people in that uncivilized empire.

The hate crime that victimized millions over the century and continued today, is clearly planned. It is a politically motivated act and violence by oppressors, and organized officially and non-officially, measured its success and changes its form based on different factors. That is why today we can see the hate crime towards Oromo by narrow minded Ethiopians, made its way all long and continued even in the western democratic society member Ethiopians. There for, it can be taken as a crime that is organized by hate group that attacks Oromo and Oromummaa in every way possible in the Empire or out side. But is is really funny that even these groups that have common interest in attacking Oromo and Oromummaa are enemies to each other and made common bed when comes to such matter.

A hate group is an organized group or movement that advocates and practices hatred, hostility, or violence towards members of others that are targeted. Accordingly, the hate group which currently targeted Oromo and Oromummaa at home and abroad, took a primary purpose of promoting animosity, hostility, and malice against oromo identity, language, culture, political organizations, associations, intellectuals, etc.

Like before currently, any thing that promote Oromo nation became a victim of these hate groups that includes the current killer regime in Ethiopia, those oppositions calling themselves they struggle for freedom and democracy in Ethiopia, opposition groups calling them selves freedom fighters of Ethiopian people, the so called activists, politicians, journalists, media, PC desk top heroes and heroine. Even though they have some thing to struggle for against each other but they showed unity in hating Oromo and Oromummaa. They cooperate successfully in advertising the hate towards Oromo nation in all costs of their activity.

If we try to see at least few examples that shows how Oromo are targeted inside that Empire, Oromo students are targeted and imprisoned, tortured, disappeared, killed and dismissed from their study at different levels, just because of they born Oromo and showed respect to their own identity than the identity others dreaming fro them. Many Oromo business men and women ended up in Prison from their own business as one of the hate crime objective towards Oromo, is to weaken the economy to the root level. Due to such police, it became clear that today others controlled all the business going inside Oromia. The Oromo farmers missed and continuously missing their piece of land under the so called investment with out any sufficient compensation. Oromo intellectuals lead a life in prison as the government planned it purposely to discourage the Oromo young generation. Even those Oromo politicians who are trying the way they think they can solve the problem of that empire, ended up in prison for the crime they never planned and did, even never thought.

Oromia as one of the state in the federal government that seems another way to strength the exploitation of oromia, Oromia contributed the largest GDP to the economy of that empire. But one can clearly see that most of the cities and villages in Oromia purposefully denied basic infrastructures and lagging behind of time. According to the new report from Oromo Liberation Front (OLF), out of a list of 528 political prisoners, the Oromo constituted almost 90% of the new statistics.

One can say only the lucky once has made away to escape the hate crime showering on Oromo in Ethiopia and just the luckiest once to westerns since many are still suffering in East African countries and Arab countries. But In reality, even those who made to westerns, faced another front line of hate crime from narrow minded Ethiopians who continued to deny Oromo’s self identity and never wants to hear about Oromo and Oromia. But wants to impose their own identity on others.

The hate group that is a fruit of century long hate towards Oromo in Ethiopian empire, continued to victimize Oromo even in western society. They wanted the Oromo to deny themselves and they condemn Oromo when the Oromo say what they are in public or private. But this is just a selfish dream that will never be fulfilled because Oromo can’t deny themselves.

From activist and journalist Jawar Mohammed’s “I am Oromo first” to “we are oromo we are not ethiopians” of the protesters against violence against Oromo refugees in different countries, the anger, insult and verbal abuse that came out of habesha related media, politician, activists, journalists and individuals was clearly showed what does it mean being an Ethiopian according to them and also showed the future of that empire . The reality is that, the Ethiopia they dream of such character is good for nobody including for themselves. All this confirm that the hate crime involved killing, imprisoning, torturing of Oromo in Ethiopia took another form in dyaspora. It involves verbal violence.

Verbal violence is often a substitute for real violence and that the verbalization of hate has the potential to incite people who are incapable of distinguishing between real and verbal violence to engage in actual violence. These hate crimes against Oromo and Oromummaa have been conducted by internate hate groups and few Ethiopian media which are infected by Oromophobia.

Internate hate groups are hate groups that spread their messages by word of mouth or through the distribution of flyers and pamphlets in addition to electronic transmissions of sounds and images. The internet has been a boom for hate groups in general but specifically the narrow minded Ethiopian dyasporas have effectively used and using the internet targeting Oromo and Oromummaa and interms of organizing the hate crime against Oromo refugees. The plan was to silence the Oromo refugees about their identity but the failed plan doubled their anger and hate towards Oromo nation in general.

Today hate websites, social network groups, blogs, news groups, you tube, video sites, and TV under the arm band of “Emiye Ethiopia” became common and actively participating in advocating the hate groups organized to attack the Oromo people and nation verbally.

As the use of internet continues to grow among the Ethiopian dyaspora society, the narrow minded ethiopians have found “effective” and new ways to seek validation for their hateful agendas towards Oromo and oromo nation.

As the great African leader, the most inspiring leader for equality and justice, Nelson Mandela said “….people learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes from naturally to the human heart than its opposite”, thus let us work together to stop the hate crimes against the Oromo people in their own country and outside. The Oromo people respect their own identity and they respect identity of others too.

Oromia shall be free

=>ayyaantuu

we have attacked Chinese convey in Ogaden-ONLF Commander

Photo Credit: American Journalist, Jonathan Alpeyrie in Ogaden With ONLF, The date on the photo is not verified.

Abdullaahi Yasin, a commander of ONLF, Ogaden National Liberation Front especail unit of Danab, a group fighting for self-determination of Ogaden region in eastern Ethiopia confirmed several attacks against Ethiopian Troops in Ogaden Region.

Speaking to Radio-Xoriyo, a Radio run by the ONLF, Commander Abdullahi Yasin confirmed that they have carried out several attacks in Ogaden on last week.

Our operational objectives were weaking the military, said The Commander.

Our recent attacks have increased, and normally we attack everyday three or four operations most of them are planned and well-coordinated, we have received many ammunitions and weapons from the Enemy (Regimes Troops) – added the commander.

The commander confirmed that they have burned in this week three Military trucks including “Ural’ a local used military track made in Russia.

We have received that there is a big convey in the area of Jigjiga, Bambaas Vicinity and we have attacked on the convey, we did not aware of what is this convey carrying but later we have found out that Chinese delegates are among. There was a fierce fighting and reminded the Ethiopian troops Obale Operation, I am confirming that there was heavy caulity, said the Commander Abdullaahi Yaasin.

Meanwhile the commander speaking out the daily attacked, he said that there was other attacks carried out on the same day on December 6 and other military transport were burned in the area of Dhanaan and Babili of Jigjiga and Godey Zones.

Ogaden region hosted Ethiopian Federalisim gathering, political analysts refers hosting as a sympol Ethiopia wants to show International Community that Ogaden people are ready to accept as part of Ethiopian Government.

However majority of Ogaden people complained about hosting the Ethiopian Nations and Nationalities Day in Jigjiga, reports said that many people are arrested and mistreated while the city was under military.

The government wants to secure the area since fearing any insecurity incidents. According to a source the federal government has learned that there were many attacks on the region.

The Regional Administration claims developing the region with many projects, locals believe in the development of the region is far from the reality on the grounds.

The missing is a life; life without freedom has no development said, Ahmed Abdullahi.

On April 2007, Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF) attacked on a Chinese oil field in Ogaden killing 65 of workers including nine Chinese.

The Government of Ethiopia blamed for brutal and excessive counter insurgency operation in Ogaden.

Human Right Groups accused of Ethiopian government a crime against humanity, Ethiopia refutes the accusation.

In 2007, Ethiopia crackdown against insurgent of ONLF, Ogaden National Liberation Front, a group fighting for self-determination of Ogaden region has left thousands of Ogaden civilians who are mainly women and children.

Media and journalist are banned in the Ogaden region and that is why the conflict in Ogaden is not getting international attention.

The past few days the region has seen an increase in heavy fighting.

Since 2005, Ethiopia government isolated Ogaden region from the World, Ethiopia imposed a ban all international aid and media organizations in Ogaden despite some are operating under the permit of intelligence surveillances.

Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF) fighting for the self-determination of Ogaden Region in Ethiopia since 1994.

=>somalilandpress

Gatiin Dhiiga Goototaa Bilisummaa Biyyaati!

KUTAA 1ffaa

Jiituu Lammii- Unbarsiitii Finfinnee

“….Nuti duunus du’uu baannus akeekni keenya ilmaan ilmaan keenyaatiin galma gaha…!”H/Maariyam Gammadaa 1968

Aadaa Oromoo keessatti sanyiin ooda. Sanyiin akkatti faca’u qaba. Yeroo faca’u qaba. Lafa isaaf ta’utu jira. Akeeka faca’uuf qaba. Margee akka calla gaarii kennu kunuunsa gaafata. Qonnaan bulaa gaariin kana hunnda beeka. Lafa sanyichi jaalatu filatee qotee – bulleessee, dikee ittigatee -xaa’omsee facaasa. Simbirri hamtuun akka hinfunaanne, bineensi balaafamaan akka hinballeesine halkanii guyyaa eega. Biqilaan gosa biraa keessa makamee itticobee akka hinquucarsine irraa cira. Keessaa bubuqqisa. Yeroo gahu eegee walitti qaba. Calleessee galfata. Antuunniif daanawoon akka hinyaanne kuusaa keessattis eegumsa tolcha. Hagamuu rakkatullee sanyiirraa hinyaatu. Qooqa bulee bara dhufuuf facaasa. Dhalootaaf sanyii dabarsa. Warri sanyii nyaate warra oodaati. Oyiruutu lafa baha. Maatiitu beela’a. Maatiin beela’e gaadidduudhaba. Ormaaf ergama. Qe’ee isaanii ormatu dhaala. Ijoolleen warra sanyii nyaatee gurmuu hinqaban. Abbaa argetu waldhaansoof kajeela – humna ittilaallata. Ulfina hinqaban. Fokkuun warra sanyii nyaatee himamee hindhumu.

Firoottan koo, maniin dubbii kiyyaa waa’ee sanyii midhaanii miti. Sanyii sanyii caalu kan hundi keenya ittirakkachaa jirrutu dubbii kanaan wal fakkeenya qabaayyan akka kanaan dubbachuu barbaade malee. Saba mirga abbaa biyyummaa gonfachiisuuf; akkasumas biyyi biyya ta’ee birmadummaan akka jiraatu sammuu dhalootaa keessa sanyii sirrii facaasuu gaafata. Warri akkaataa kanaan jabaatee dhaloota ijaarrate har’a saba bilisa, biyya birmaduu qaba. Nuun kanatu nu hanqate. Kanaaf biyya dhabnee gaaga’amne. Dhaloota sanyii sirrii harkaa hinqabne beela qoonqoo otoo hintaane beela namoomaatu ajjeesa. Namummaa beela’nii du’uu caala wanti qaanii ta’u hinjiru. Akka kanaan dhaloota maalummaa saba isaafi egeree biyyaa isaa hubatee horachuu baannaan gaaga’ama sabaatu umrii dheerata.

Kanaaf sanyii kana akkuma akka isaatti facaafnee dhalootaaf guduunfuu qabna. Kana gochuuf ammoo ofuma keenyaafuu sanyii dhugaa harkaa qabaachuu keenya mirkaneeffachuutu dursa. Kana gochuu hanqannee sanyiin kun harka dhalootaatti waakkii taanaan nutu warra sanyii nyaate ta’e. Salphinichis kanuma keenya. Dhugaa dubbachuuf har’a hundi keenya sanyii kana wal qixa harkaa hinqabnu. Gariin keenya sanyii kana nyaannee salphinatti hafnee namaaf ergamaa jirra ta’a. Gariin keenya ammoo sanyii kana ol-kaayaa balleessinee nu harkaa badeera ta’a. Yookanimmoo hantuunniif daanawoon nu harkatti fixeera ta’a. Gariin kenyaammoo lafa hintaanerra facaafnee, ykn. kunuunsa dhoowwannee sanyiin gosa biraa nu harkaa dhaale ta’a. tariimmoo sibmirroon diinaa funaantee, bineensi hamaan balleessee sanyii malee hafneerra ta’a. Kun hunduu badiidha. Bu’aan isaa dhalootatti waan hiixatan dhabanii, lafti ofii sanyii ormaa magarsee ilmaan ofii yoo ormi ittiroorrisu arguu ta’e.

Karaa biraatiin, Warri sanyii dhufaa darbaan diroo lakkaayee isaan qaqqaberratti cichanii bineensa hamaafi shimbirroo diinaa irraa faccisanii, gatii jabaan, waldhaansoo guddaan dhaloottatti diroo dabarsaa jiran yaadachuu qabna. Hunda caalammoo sanyii kana wal harkaa fuunee dhalootatti dabarsuun sabatti- abdii, biyyatti- ulfina horuuf sammuu dhalootaa keessa sanyii kana facaasuu, isa faca’e kunuunfachuun hojii keenya ta’uu qaba. Kanaaf, faana warri sanyii kana nuun gahe keessa darbe akeekkachuufi dhaamsa sagalee isaanii kuusaa seenaa keessaa barbaadanii qalbeeffachuun hojii kanatti human hora.

Kanaaf jecha akkaataatti dhaloonni baroota keessatti walfuree, seena wal harkaa fuudhee sanyii kan nuuf dabarse hubachuuf taateewaan tokko tokko gumbii seenaa keessaa fuunee akka waliin yaadannun hawwee – turtii gaarii.

1966, Arsii –Dheeraa.

Barri kun bara Waldaan Walgargaarsa Maccaafi Tuulamaa golee Oromiyaa hunda keessatti karra diinni cufe saaquun Oromoo wal agarsiisuuf sochii jabaa ittijalqabe ture. Guyyaaan armaan olii kunimmoo guyyaa saba wal yaadachiisee miirri tokkummaafi abbaa biyyummaa ittihaarome, Oromoof guyyaa addaa ture. Oromoon, guyyicha haala kanaan dura argameefi dhagahamee hinbeekamneen uggura diinaa cabsee kumaatamaan gaaddisa tokko jalatti bakka kanatti wal gahe. “….burqituun walitti yaatee galaana taati. Akkuma kana dhalli namaas [Oromoonis] wal gahee biyyaafi saba guddaa ta’a!”jedhan namguddoo beekamoon tokko haala uumamaa jiru qalbiin erga xiinxalanii booda saba kana gargar ittisuun diinatti qormaata jabaa akka ta’uu danda’u tilmaamaa. Tilmaamni isaanii otoo xinnoo hinturree human nafxannyootaa akkuma dur ittifakkaatee saba guddaa kana walirraa ittisuuf ergametti baallee kolfaa kaayee har’uun dhugoomuu jalqabe. Sanyichi yeroo isaaf malutti bakka isaaf ta’utti faca’era. Amma wanti ittaanu sanyii kana simbirroon diinaa akka hinfunaanne jabaatanii eeggachuu ture. Kanaaf ammo warri sanyicha facaasan hanga mil’uu ijaallee otoo hindagatanii “…ani kan garaa koo garaatti deeffadheera! Kana booda waan fiddan fidaa…!” jechuun Sanyii dabarsanii bineensatti kennuurra lubbuu ofii kennuu akka filatan dhugoomsan. Sana booda sagaleefi raawwiin lammii garaa ciibsu qe’ee Oromoo keessaa burquu eegale. “ …hojiin nuti jalqabne hanga bofa garaa seeneeti. Gadis harkifamu, keessattis dhiifamu summii isaa facaaseera waan ta’eef bu’an isaa tokkuma. Nuti duunus du’uu baannus akeekni keenya ilmaan ilmaan keenyaatiin galma gaha…” jechuun sanyiin facaasan dhaloota keessatti biqilee Oromoof furmaata, diinaafimmoo summii bara baraa akka ta’u raagan.

Gama biraatiin diinni bardheeraaf akka waan aangoon Waaqirraa isaan qofaaf kennametti himachaa ture dacheen ittiin sochootee abidda kana ofirraa dhaamsuuf wixxisuu jalqabe. /Ittifufa/

Kutaa ittaanu keessatti lamaanuu wal bira qabnee ilaalla.

Horaa Bulaa!

=>qeerroo

Madda Walaabuu Media Foundation’s Editorial Policies

“We aim to tell stories from an Oromo point of view and deal with issues that are important to Oromo and Oromia.”

1.  Introduction

This document incorporates the editorial values, guiding principles, approaches to programming and editorial practices of the Oromo Voice Radio. The performance measures, feature perspectives and program content and description are also indicated sequentially.

1.1         Background

The Oromo Voice Radio (OVR) is an independent bilingual media outlet broadcasting to Oromia and the Horn of Africa. It is owned and operated by the Madda Walaabuu Media Foundation (MWMF), which is founded by the concerned Oromo and registered in 2013 in Washington, DC, USA. The radio broadcasts its programs at the frequency of 17850 kHz in the 16 meter band.

Under the umbrella of the board of directors of the MWMF, the daily activities of the OVR are delegated to the executive body of the foundation. Under the direction of the executive director the outlets are run by the journalists (editorial board).

Hence, to meet the set code of conduct of the MWMF and to fulfill the rules, principles and standards of international media outlets, the OVR has set its own governing and guiding editorial policy. The principal aim of this policy is to help the OVR provide program contents that fulfill the purpose and mission of the MWMF at high standards.

Under the guiding principles of the MWMF, this editorial policy also specifies how the OVR programs need to be shaped; interprets broadcasting mandate and provides decision making framework for editorial staff.

Furthermore, the editorial policy of OVR is intended to be applied with due regard to the nature of the content under consideration in particular cases. The Oromo Voice Radio is conscious of its dual obligations– accountability and high quality that can practically interact in complex ways.  The policy is applicable not only to the radio programs, recording, producing and broadcasting but also to all the services on its website, social media, by short message service (SMS) and/or by mobile phone that could be produced by the OVR staff and MWMF members.

- For whole content in PDF

=>ayyaantuu

OLF Condemns the Ethiopian State-Terrorism Along the Oromia-Kenyan Border

The following statement is from the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF).

——————————-

Date: 10 December 2013
Ref: 003/OLF/13

PRESS RELEASE

OLF condemns Ethiopian state-terrorism along the Oromia-Kenyan border

The Ethiopian regime has, once again, orchestrated a widespread unrest and carnage on both sides of the border between Kenya and Oromia. Having totally dominated and dehumanized the Oromo people under its direct control for the past two decades, the regime has exported its terror across the border to the Oromo citizens of Kenya.

We are gravely concerned that the on-going fighting in the Moyale district between Borana, Sakuye and Gerri communities on one side, and Gabra and Burji on the other is threatening the very existence of these communities.

So far, the clashes have caused losses of human lives and destruction of properties. More than 35 people, including women and children, are killed, and hundreds of houses (mostly belonging to Borana) are burnt down. Over 22,000 people are displaced and exposed to an immeasurable suffering.

The Ethiopian regime is the main cause and instigator of this inter-clan conflict. Ethiopian security agents and military forces have been involved in this sort of inter-clan clashes for years and they are intensifying it this time by committing the following sinister acts of divide and rule:

1. Providing military training and arming rival communities both in Kenya and Ethiopia, and inciting one against the other and triggering clashes on both sides of the border.

2. Escorting the rival communities along the border areas when smuggling guns and ammunition to Kenya.

3. Allowing some of the rivals groups to organize as militias and granting them safe passes across the border.

4. Disguising themselves as one of the fighting clan militias, they raid the villages of the clans they consider enemies, kill and maim their men, women and children, and loot and burn their homes. They also openly cross over to Kenya in their full military uniform and attack defenseless innocent Kenyan civilians.

5. Crossing the border and hunting down to abduct or assassinate prominent Oromo-Kenyans and Oromo refugees in Kenya.

6. The Ethiopian security forces also pay large sums of money bribing the local Kenyan officials who turn a blind eye to the heinous crimes committed on their soil.

The Ethiopian state spreads false propaganda that the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA) operates from Kenya as a pretext to cross over and create turmoil in the peaceful adjacent communities in the state of Kenya.

We use this opportunity to refute once again this false and cheap misinformation by the Ethiopian regime that is intended to confuse those who are afar. We appreciate the way the Kenyans live together in peace and equality. We have no motive whatsoever to interfere and disturb the prevailing tranquility of our friendly neighbors.

We urge all concerned to be aware of Ethiopian repressive regime’s malicious scheme of expanding chaos across Ethiopia’s borders to the whole region. The ultimate solution lies with the removal of the terrorist Ethiopian state by the popular struggle which the OLF is leading with determination.

We strongly believe that the communities fighting each other are one people and have no fundamental enmity among them. No matter what happens for the time being, they lived and will continue to live together forever.

We regret that the enemy has succeeded in setting brothers against brothers. However, we are confident the communities will soon overcome the tragedy and resolve the disputes according our African tradition.

In the mean while, at this juncture, we plead to the parties involved in the conflict to resolve differences among themselves harmoniously as they have done for many years in the past.

We call upon the Borana, Sakuye, Gerri, Gabra and Burji communities to halt hostilities as a matter of urgency and allow the displaced people to return to their homes.

Let justice prevail all over!

Oromia shall be free!

Oromo Liberation Front

=>gadaa

Saudi Arabia migrant expulsions: 'They beat us. I want to warn others not to go

More than 100,000 Ethiopian men, women and children have been expelled from the kingdom as labour rules tighten

• 
• • Elissa Jobson in Addis Ababa
  • theguardian.com, Wednesday 11 December 2013 07.00 GMT

An Ethiopian migrant speaks with a member of Saudi security forces as she waits in a bus to be repatriated, in Manfouha, southern Riyadh. Photograph: Reuters

Abdulla Shahmola trudges up the road leading from Addis Ababa airport to the outskirts of the city, his battered black suitcase balanced precariously on his head. Weariness and relief are etched into his delicate features as he heaves his heavy bag to the floor. "I have so many possessions that I had to leave behind in Saudi Arabia – a television, a bed, a fridge," he laments, adding that he is thankful to be back in Ethiopia.

Abdulla is one of hundreds of men, women and children steadily streaming from the airport cargo terminal, where up to 20 flights have been arriving daily from Jeddah and Riyadh since 13 November. A kilometre's walk from the hastily erected transit centre, which has been processing some 7,000 returning migrants each day, a small crowd, held back by federal police officers in blue military fatigues, waits anxiously for a glimpse of a loved one.

As of 8 December, 115,465 Ethiopians – 72,780 men, 37,092 women and 5,593 children, 202 of whom were unaccompanied – had returned from Saudi Arabia, according to government figures. The migrants, most of whom were in Saudi Arabia without work permits, were expelled after atightening of labour regulations in March and the expiration of an amnesty for illegal workers on 4 November.

More than a million migrant workers from across Asia have been expelled from the kingdom as part of the crackdown, which is designed to get more Saudis into jobs and reduce the high unemployment rate.

The crackdown has triggered clashes in the capital, Riyadh, in which three Ethiopians were reportedly killed, sparking outrage in Ethiopia.

"They beat us," alleges Abdulla. He reaches into his pocket, pulls out his mobile phone and opens images of badly beaten Ethiopians, singling out one man whose throat appears to have been slit. His friends do the same, thrusting forward their mobiles. "I saw people killed. They are murderers," he hisses.

He says he has spent the past month in an overcrowded Saudi prison. "There were 900 people in one place. After 24 hours they gave us small things – water, a little food. They called the embassy." He claims the detainees had to buy their own food and water at great expense.

Hawa Gizawi, 20, who worked as a domestic servant in Oman and Saudi Arabia for the past four years, also maintains that she was mistreated while in custody awaiting repatriation. "I spent 15 days in prison in Jeddah – no food, no toilet, no hospital. They don't respect our human rights," she says, adding that her employers withheld her wages for a year. "I don't want to go back to Saudi Arabia and I want to warn others not to go."

The International Organisation for Migration (IOM), which is supporting the Ethiopian government in dealing with the unexpected influx of returnees, has expressed concern about the physical and mental condition of the returnees, describing them as being "traumatised, anxious and seriously sick".

Merenasch Selfu, a nurse at one of the seven transit centres in Addis Ababa receiving repatriates, says many of her patients have upper respiratory tract infections. "The women say there were held in places with no latrines, poor sanitation and no air conditioning, and that is why they developed a cough," she explains.

She has also treated women with newborn babies as well as those in the late stages of pregnancy. "The day before yesterday one women arrived at the centre showing the early signs of labour," Merenasch says. She estimates that some 2%-3% of those treated at the centre show symptoms of depression or psychosis and confirms she has examined women who claim to have suffered sexual abuse.

The Ethiopian government is providing additional medical and psychological support for the migrants who need it. However, officials admit to being ill-prepared for the massive influx of returnees.

"Frankly speaking, we organised ourselves for very few people – up to 25,000," says Tadesse Bekele, deputy director of the ministry of agriculture's disaster risk management and food security directorate. "Reception and transit centres may not have facilities equal to the number of people being accommodated so for that we are organising alternatives. For example, we are deploying mobile latrines in places where we may have only two or three [toilets] to serve a thousand people."

That said, the government – with assistance from UN agencies and NGOs, as well as contributions from the private sector – seems to be managing the emergency efficiently.

Negussie Kefeni, co-ordinator of a transit centre in the heart of Addis Ababa, says the previous night the facility housed 1,399 women and 80 children – more than double the number it was intended to serve. All traces of that inundation have vanished, however. Clean mattresses and blankets have been neatly laid out, the floors swept and washed, the bathrooms disinfected and the water tanks replenished.

"This kind of operation is not the first exercise of its kind in Ethiopia. We have been working with refugees from Asmara [capital of Eritrea] in three cities in Afar," says Negussie.

Rows of chairs are set up under the trees, injera and wot are ready to be served, and hundreds of dignity kits – containing basic hygiene necessities – have been assembled, and a 900birr ($47) travel allowance awaits the new arrivals. As the first bus pulls up outside the transit centre, and the burka-clad women disembark, volunteers and staff from the Red Cross, International Rescue, IOM and various government departments welcome the disoriented returnees to the penultimate stop on their traumatic journey home.

=theguardian