ReliefWeb

The Government of Ireland has provided €100,000 to assist IOM’s ongoing post-arrival assistance to Ethiopian migrants returning from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The new funding will be used to provide post arrival medical assistance, meals, transportation within Addis Ababa and onward transportation to their hometowns and a cash allowance.

Irish Ambassador to Ethiopia, H.E Mr. Aidan O’Hara, acknowledged the efforts by the Government of Ethiopia and IOM in providing life-saving assistance to the migrants. “The Government of Ireland appreciates the work done and we join you in solidarity to ensure continued assistance to the arriving migrants.”

H.E. O’Hara visited the reception center at Bole International Airport to see firsthand, the post-arrival assistance being provided to the returnees, and was able to speak to some of them.

“I worked in Saudi Arabia for a year and I left my sponsor’s place because of the hardship I was facing while working there. Before returning home, I was at the detention center for four days. There was no bed, and I was very tired when I got here. I have called my parents in Jimma, and I am going to head there tomorrow,” explained one of the returnees.

The State Minister for Disaster Risk Management and Food Security Sector (DRMFSS), H.E Mitiku Kassa said that his Government’s coordination with humanitarian partners such as IOM is well managed. “Despite the unanticipated large number of arrivals, it has been possible to provide comprehensive post arrival services to the returnees, including transportation, health, immigration, banking, telecommunication and other services,” said H.E Mitiku Kassa.

IOM’s emergency post-arrival operation started in mid-November on request of the Government of Ethiopia. The assistance includes provision of transportation allowance, transportation to and from the airport to the transit centers, post arrival medical care, overnight accommodation, meal provision and other Non-food Items.

As of Sunday 22 December, 144, 507 Ethiopian migrants have returned to Ethiopia (88,976 men, 47,854 women, and 7,677 minors).

IOM) is urgently appealing to the international community for financial support to continue providing immediate post arrival humanitarian assistance to thousands of Ethiopian migrants arriving from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA).

According to the government’s estimates, there are currently 155,000 projected migrants expected to return.

For more information, please contact:

Mr. Alemayehu Seifeselassie Senior Communications Assistant IOM Addis Ababa Tel: +251 116 611 117(Ext 455); Email: salemayehu@iom.int