ESAT News (June 27, 2017)
Ethiopians, who wish to leave Saudi Arabia in line with the Kingdom’s amnesty for undocumented workers, have called for their government to speed up their departure.
The Ethiopians who are stranded at Saudi airports speaking to ESAT said they have bought their tickets from the Ethiopian Airlines but were unable to board their planes due to lack efficient collaboration between the ticket offices and government representatives.
“Women and children are waiting for days on at the airports without enough food. The Airlines is demanding penalty fees while it is not our fault that we are stranded at airport terminals,” a woman told ESAT.
The Ethiopian regime says about 85,000 Ethiopians have registered to leave the Kingdom but only about 35,000 returned so far as the 90 day amnesty expires today.
It is estimated that about 700,000 Ethiopians live in the Kingdom and a great majority of them are undocumented.
The government of Saudi Arabia in March decreed a 90 day amnesty for undocumented workers to leave the Kingdom.
The hundreds of Ethiopians who haven’t obtained their travel documents now face penalty and imprisonment which will be followed by deportation.