The International Organization for Migration assisted 53 stranded Ethiopians to return from Djibouti on Monday 19 October 2015. Among the returnees, six were unaccompanied minors while the remaining were adult men.  

The returnees were stranded in Djibouti after they were abandoned by their smugglers and had no means to return. IOM Djibouti and IOM Special Liaison Office in Ethiopia coordinated with the Government of Ethiopia for their return.

Among the returnees, many had stayed in Djibouti for more than a month, hoping to cross the ocean by boat.

Returnees received a post arrival assistance in Ethiopia, including transportation allowance, blankets and sweaters before continuing their journey onwards to their areas of origin. Six of the returnees however, are awaiting for their family tracing and reunification to be conducted by IOM, the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs and UNICEF.