On Friday, Ethiopian authorities initiated the repatriation of stranded migrants from the oil-rich kingdom of Saudi Arabia, facilitating the return of 842 individuals through flights.
The objective of the third phase of this program is to repatriate 70,000 people within four months, achieved through the operation of 12 flights per week.
According to the government, the migrants faced dire circumstances, with many being undocumented and enduring incarceration in prisons and detention centers within Saudi Arabia.
However, there remains a significant risk of these individuals returning to Saudi Arabia, given the annual migration of thousands seeking improved living conditions.
Earlier this week, Ethiopian officials reported the tragic loss of 38 migrants, including children, in a shipwreck off the coast of Djibouti, prompting speculation that they may have been en route to Saudi Arabia.
Reports suggest that Saudi Arabia hosts approximately 750,000 Ethiopian migrants, with more than half believed to have entered the country unlawfully.