The International Migrant’s Day was marked today (18 December 2013) in Addis Ababa,Ethiopia. The day was colorfully marked at an event held in the capital’s City Hall whereby participants from women federation, youth association, representatives of the elderly, the media and other invited guests were attending.

Children choir, theatre shows, poetry recital and the testimonials of women returnees who endured different challenges in Saudi Arabia were the highlights of the event.  The Addis Ababa City Administration Bureau of Labor and Social Affairs and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) jointly organized this event.

This year the theme of International Migrant’s Day reads “It’s time to Take Action and Save Lives of Migrants Caught in Crisis.”  The theme comes in perfect timing with the IOM and the Government of Ethiopia providing post arrival assistance to tens of thousands of Ethiopian Migrants from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.  

At the event Ato Kemal Ahmed, Special Advisor of the Mayor of Addis Ababa on Social Affairs, stated that irregular migration is posing a serious problem on the human and economic well being in a society.

Head of the Addis Ababa City Administration Bureau of Labor and Social Affairs, Ato Ephrem Gizaw on his part  said that “the Government of Ethiopia is taking action to formalize overseas employment, putting in place the appropriate legal and procedural frameworks.”   

Representing IOM as OIC for the Chief of Mission, Mr. Gabriel Okutoi gave his remarks on the event. Mr. Okutoi stated that, “As we speak,Ethiopiais welcoming thousands of Ethiopian migrants returning home following the Saudi government crackdown on irregular migrants residing in the Kingdom. IOM is collaborating with the Ethiopian government in the repatriation efforts with the returnee’s figure now exceeding 135,000.”

On the International Migrant’s Day, IOM warns that unless the international community takes decisive action to address the causes of irregular migration, more migrant lives will be lost at the hands of people smugglers and traffickers. IOM also said that the year 2013 may have been the costliest year on record in terms of lives lost, for migrants seeking to cross international borders clandestinely.

The International Migrants Day is celebrated every year on the 18 of December as it is proclaimed by the UN General assembly. The UN took this decision taking into account the large and increasing number of migrants in the world.

The event is part of project funded by EU with co-funding from NL/NO/CH.