ADDIS ABABA – About 146 Ethiopian migrants, who were stranded in Yemen, have been repatriated on Tuesday, according to the ministry of foreign affairs.
A flight aboard 146 citizens arrived in Addis Ababa from Yemen today, the Spokesperson Office of the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
“15 women and 5 children are among the repatriates,” the statement added.
Despite recent drop in illegal migration, migrants from East Africa including Ethiopians often risk their lives making the dangerous journey via the Gulf of Aden to Yemen in the hope of finding jobs in Saudi Arabia.
Most end up either stranded in Yemeni or Saudi Arabia’s detention centers due to their illegal status.
Starting March 30, 2022, Ethiopia is currently carrying out a repatriation operation to bring its nationals detained in Saudi Arabia . To date, more than 22, 600 citizens have returned to their home nation.
The repatriation effort involving three flights a day for three days every week, will continue for the next six months, authorities say.
