ADDIS ABABA, May 22 (Xinhua) -- The Ethiopia Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) disclosed on Saturday it has returned home 1,200 nationals from Saudi Arabia.
In a press statement, MoFA said 1,200 Ethiopians were returned home from the Saudi capital Riyadh in recent days.
The Ministry is undertaking the repatriation of Ethiopian nationals living in difficult conditions in foreign countries despite logistical challenges created by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Ethiopia has recorded 268,520 COVID-19 cases and 4,060 COVID-19 related deaths so far.
It is estimated every year thousands of Ethiopians are trafficked to the Arabian Peninsula, in search of job opportunities in informal sectors.
The route goes eastwards with Ethiopians trafficked through Djibouti or Somalia and the Red Sea before reaching their final destinations in the Arabian Peninsula.
In recent months, Ethiopia has stepped up efforts to return home its citizens stranded in various foreign countries, as part of the government's newly unveiled "citizen-focused diplomacy".
The Ethiopian government is also working to dismantle sophisticated human trafficking networks, as well as create economic opportunities for nationals with low incomes. Enditem
