By: Yeabsira Endalkachew
The Ministry of Women and Social Affairs announced today that a total of 1,671 Ethiopian nationals, including 34 unaccompanied minors and one infant, have returned home safely from Saudi Arabia through eight coordinated repatriation flights conducted over the past week.
Speaking from the national transit coordination center in Addis Ababa, Ministry officials reported that this latest arrival brings the total number of repatriated citizens to over 90,000 since the federal government launched its large-scale national return and reintegration initiative on September 5, 2026.
The ministry reported that the returnees, comprising both men and women alongside vulnerable children, were received at Addis Ababa Bole International Airport by dedicated inter-agency task forces. Officials explained that returning citizens are immediately provided with comprehensive emergency assistance, medical screening, psychological support, and temporary shelter at designated government transit centers operated in close collaboration with international humanitarian partners. The ministry recommended that local regional authorities, community leaders, and development organizations strengthen grassroots coordination to ensure the smooth socio-economic reintegration of returnees into their native communities.
Emphasizing the vital importance of preventative measures, the Ministry of Women and Social Affairs stated that it is aggressively expanding public awareness campaigns across high-migration hotspots to educate citizens about the severe dangers of human trafficking and irregular migration routes. Ministry representatives recommended that youth and job seekers exclusively utilize official, legal labor migration channels established by the government, which guarantee worker protection, fair contracts, and safety abroad. The ministry reaffirmed its commitment to prosecuting illegal traffickers and brokers who exploit vulnerable individuals.
Looking ahead, government coordinators confirmed that family reunification procedures and skill-mapping initiatives are currently underway at transit facilities to help returnees rebuild their livelihoods. The ministry urged civil society organizations and private sector employers to assist in providing vocational training and seed capital to enable returned citizens to achieve sustainable economic independence. The federal government pledged to continue its multi-phased repatriation flights until all stranded Ethiopian migrants in Saudi Arabia are safely brought back home, it was noted.
