The Government of Ireland has donated €100,000 towards the ongoing IOM post-arrival assistance to Ethiopian migrants returning from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The donation will help to provide post arrival medical assistance, meals, transportation with in Addis Ababa and onward transportation cash allowance to the migrants.

The Ireland Ambassador to Ethiopia H.E Mr. Aidan O’Hara acknowledged the efforts by the Government of Ethiopia and IOM towards the provision of life-saving assistance to the migrants. “The Government of Ireland appreciates the work done and we join you in solidarity to ensure continued assistance to the arriving migrants.” He said during the donation agreement signing session.

On behalf of the IOM Chief ofMission, the Officer in Charge, Mr. Cornelius Weira thanked the Government of Ireland for the timely donation and said it will be put to good use in providing the necessary post-arrival assistance to the Ethiopian returnees.

H.E Mr. Aidan O’Hara also visited the reception centre at theBoleInternationalAirportto see firsthand, the post-arrival assistance that is provided for the returnees, and was able to talk to some of them. “I worked inSaudi Arabiafor a year and I left my sponsor’s place because of the hardship I was facing while working there. Before coming here, I had stayed at the detention center for four days. There was no bed, and I was very tired when I got here. I have called my parents in Jimma from here, and I am going to head there tomorrow,” Said one of the returnees.

Receiving the Ambassador at the Airport, the State Minister for Disaster Risk Management and Food Security Sector (DRMFSS), Ministry of Agriculture H.E Mitiku Kassa said that the government’s coordination with humanitarian partners such as IOM is well managed. He further noted that despite the unanticipated number of arrivals, it has been possible to provide a comprehensive post arrival services to the returnees including transportation, health, immigration, banking, telecommunication and other services.

IOM’s emergency post-arrival operation started in mid-November on request by the Government of Ethiopia. The assistance includes provision of transportation allowance, transportation to and from the airport to the transit centers, post arrival medical care, overnight accommodation, meal provision and other Non-food Items.

As of Sunday December 22, 144, 507 Ethiopian migrants have arrived in Ethiopia. Out of whom 88,976 are men, 47,854 are women, and 7,677 are children.