ESAT News (June 30, 2017)
The Ethiopian regime has now a month’s time to repatriate nationals stranded in Saudi Arabia after the Kingdom’s 90 day amnesty for undocumented workers to leave the country expired this week.
The Kingdom extended the amnesty by a month after Ethiopia’s request last week amid reports that tens of thousands of Ethiopians who wish to return home have been stranded in the Gulf state.
Ethiopian Ambassador to the UK, Hailemichael Aberra, confirmed to the BBC on Friday the extension of the amnesty to the Ethiopians.
Ethiopia says over 100,000 nationals have registered but only about 40,000 have returned so far. It is however estimated that 700,000 Ethiopians live in the Kingdom. The fate of those who would stay behind will be monetary penalty and imprisonment to be followed by deportation.
The Ethiopians say their government has failed to speed up their return with inefficient ticket offices and consular offices in addition to the high air fares while immigrants from other countries were provided with free air transportation.