Returns from Saudi Arabia

Along the Eastern Route, most movements from Ethiopia to Saudi Arabia are believed to be irregular, economically driven and highly risky, with the Ethiopian Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs suggesting a ratio of around 2:3 between movements through irregular channels and those through regular channels. However, these movements tend to be temporary, meaning that most migrants return to Ethiopia after a few years abroad. Following the regularization of Saudi Arabia's labour market, returns have mainly been involuntary. Ethiopian returnees arrive at Bole International Airport in Addis Ababa, where they have been electronically registered by IOM since May 2017. Similar return movements were also observed to Somalia and the Sudan, although in smaller volumes.

Given this sudden and unprepared forced repatriation, the reintegration of Ethiopian returnees has been painfully slow and largely unaddressed. Most returnees face severe difficulties in reintegrating, as they return empty-handed because they used their earnings for living expenses and remittances. Many of them also experienced severe hardships during their stay and during return, causing medical and psychological conditions.