During the meeting, led by Dr. Aklilu Hailemichael of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, regional states’ representatives expressed their commitment to convince the migrants to leave Saudi Arabia safely and without paying penalty.
ADDIS ABABA (ENA)–Some 20 people drawn from Amhara, Oromia, and Tigray regional states will travel to Saudi Arabia to encourage illegal Ethiopian migrants living in Saudi Arabia to return home.
Foreign Affairs State Minister, Dr. Aklilu Hailemichael briefed the delegation on June 01, 2017 on their assignments.
The representatives of the states on their part expressed their commitment to convince the migrants to leave Saudi Arabia safely and without paying penalty.
They also promised to tell them about the readiness of the government to welcome the migrants by facilitating conditions that would enable them to engage in various income generating schemes and rehabilitate them in their respective states.
State Minister Dr. Aklilu Hailemichael further said a national command post established on April 13, 2017 has been working vigorously to facilitate the return of citizens.
The Ministry had also sent a 12-person diplomatic team to Saudi Arabia to help the Ethiopians migrants return home before the deadline.
According to Dr. Aklilu, about 50,000 Ethiopian migrants have obtained exit visa to leave the country, while 15,000 migrants have arrived safely.
The Ministry has made arrangements with Ethiopian Airlines to allow the migrants enter the country without paying tax for their goods, he revealed.
Foreign nationals living in Saudi Arabia without permit are expected to leave the country within 26 days.
Source: ENA
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