ADDIS ABABA, July 10 (Xinhua) -- The Ethiopian government has repatriated more than 130,000 nationals facing dire conditions in various foreign countries during the just-concluded Ethiopian fiscal year, the country's Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced Thursday.
Nebiat Getachew, spokesperson for the ministry, told a press briefing that as part of the Ethiopian government's "citizen-centered" diplomatic commitment to bringing home its nationals stranded in difficult situations abroad, the East African country has successfully repatriated 131,014 nationals during the 2024/2025 Ethiopian fiscal year, which ended on July 7.
He said the repatriated nationals were facing "tough situations" across 21 countries. The ministry applied both bilateral and multilateral collaborative platforms to facilitate the ongoing large-scale repatriation efforts, it was noted.
Many low-income Ethiopians migrate illegally, driven by hopes of improved living conditions abroad. In recent years, Ethiopia has intensified efforts to repatriate its citizens stranded overseas. Beyond repatriation, Ethiopia is focusing on preventive measures, including dismantling human trafficking networks and enhancing domestic economic opportunities. ■
