ADDIS ABABA Ethiopia- when ethiopia started repatriating its citzens living illegally i sSaudi Arabia last month, 30,000 people were expected to return. today four times that amount have been repatriated-with numbers still swelling daily -straining agencies to support one of the largest human airlift operations recent history.
"we really need support its a very big challenge returning over 120, 000 people in less than a month... its an emergency." said Sharon Dimanche of the international organization for Miggration (IOM), which is assisting the govenment- led repartion program.
"we have to save peoples lives" she added.
IOM said $13.1 million (9.5 million euros) is currently required to support returnees.
ethiopia expects 150.000 to return, but has been repeatedly forced to scale up its predictions as the returnees continue to flood back. Thousands - some pregnant, trumatized or sick- continue to land daily. many with tales of abuse and mistreatment.
to live in Saudi is to cry every day," said Kamer Hajji, 36, who worked as a carpenter in the oil-rich kingdom for the previous four years.
We are trying to keep ourselves together but that is not how it really is we broken inside" he said speaking near a bustling airport warehouse where thousends were searching for their luggage.
" They took our money, they took our belongings and there are people who have died he said.
Ethiopia started repatriating its citizens in noveber after 7-month amnestyv period for undocumented immigrants expired. Ethioia said three of citizens were killed in clashes with police as migrants prepared to be sent home.
Large numbers of ethiopians move to the Middle East each year seeking work as domestic servants or menial laborers to earn money to send home.
But many face harsh working conditions , physical and mental abuse low pay and discrimination, acording to the international labor organization (ILO).
Genzeb Tefera 30 said she went to saudi arabia ten month ago to make some fast money to send to her child in Ethioia, but instead said she waited seven months to be paid.
"i was expecting a very good life i thought i would get a decent job and would get paid well and would come back to Ethioia with money and support my family ."she said sitting ina health clinic at the arrivals center. sourrounded by pregnant women and nursing mothers.
Instead, Genzeb said she was thrown on the street when complained of her workload and was soon after picked up by police.
"at the jail. i saw people who were for five months or a year, some committed suicide some went crazy the treatment was really harsh" she said.
Genzeb is among many fleeing harsh economic conditions back home.
unemployment in ethiopian city is 20% according to the ILO and most of the country's 91 million people earn less than two dollars a day.
Lure of a better life
overseas employment agencies- many illegal - are rampant in the horn of africa country.
"There are challenges with poverty , people are poor but that is not the only reason why people are moving, we have traffickers we have smugglers who are taking advantage of these poor people," the IOM's Dimanche said.
Ethiopia has said it is committed to addressing the root cause of mass migration - poverty- with ambitious plans to boots employment.
illegal migration has long plagued the horn of africa with tens of thousands risking their lives each year to move aborad.
the lure of earning lavish salaries overseas draws most people abord but the reality on the ground is often different.
Toyeba Yassin 25, returned after working as a housemaid in Saudi Arabia for nearly two years.
Her employer made her clean several houses and cook, but when she complained her salary was docked.
they took my money they didnt even give me food eo eat i didn't get enough sleep because i used to work at many places," she said speaking after leaving the plane.
"thank God im here now.
Ethiopia now face the task of absorbing returnees many of whom are empty handed having had their savings and belongings confiscated,
we anticipate that there will be quite a number that will remain in addis ababa or the major cities in ethiopian b/C they cant go home" said Murphy ethiopia chief of the international rescue committee
But despite the hash treatment many faced, som say that would move abroad again since a employment opportunities at home are still scant.
I have not finished paying the money i borrowed said GEzeb referring to a loan she took to pay her way to Sauid Arabia.
If i dont get a job here i would like to pay back my loan and support my child."
source-Rappler.com
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