130 thousand Ethiopians deported from Saudi Arabia back home

 

The recent security clampdown was followed by clashes in the capital Riyadh, in which three Ethiopians were reportedly killed and several others were inhumanely treated by police and vigilante groups that included beatings, robbery, rape and torture, sparking outrage in Ethiopian communities across the world. Grueling reports of abuse and persecution were inescapably shared on social media. And, various protests outside Saudi embassies have been held, while candlelight vigils continue in many countries. According to Ethiopia's Foreign Minister Tedros Adhanom, the Ethiopian government has worked "around the clock [in] crisis management" mode trying to bring citizens back. As of December 8, 115,465 Ethiopians – 72,780 men, 37,092 women and 5,593 children – had returned from Saudi Arabia. The International Organization for Migration (IOM), which is supporting Ethiopia in dealing with the unexpected influx of returnees, has expressed concern about the physical and mental condition of the returnees, describing them as being "traumatized, anxious and seriously sick".