• Urge humanitarian organizations’ to quickly respond
ADDIS ABABA – The Ethiopian Consul General in Lebanon said it has been mobilizing resources to citizens impacted by the effect of COVID-19 by joining hands with the Community of Ethiopians in Lebanon.
Themed ‘Being a human is enough to help a human being,’ a committee established for this purpose has mobilized and distributed resources to citizens prioritizing most vulnerable ones such as lactating mothers, Aklilu Tatere Wube Acting Consul General of The Ethiopian Consulate in Lebanon told The Ethiopian Herald.
All diplomats and the rest of the staff have made contributions in addition to dedicating vehicles and office building to this purpose, he said.
So far, 400 citizens received the assistance that included cash to enable them shop some meals.
Mentioning that close to 400,000 Ethiopians are living in the country, most of whom are undocumented, the protracted economic crisis in the country compounded with COVID-19 effects have brought myriads of troubles on Ethiopian migrant workers living in the country.
Due to the awareness-raising works, many Ethiopians are also supporting one another in various places.
“We are communicating with various international organizations such as the IOM, ILO, UNHCR, Caritas; Kafa; and other humanitarian organizations to enable our citizens get temporary assistances including fees for house rent, and a supply of basic food items while urging them to involve in permanently repatriating voluntary Ethiopians.”
He said 88 citizens living in shelters are allowed to fly home when flights resume. “Some of the imprisoned Ethiopians are allowed to travel and are at deportation for departure.”
The Consulate came up with various recommendations following rigorous research findings, Aklilu said, adding that ahead of the current COVID-19 situation, it had been communicating with relevant officials to legalize undocumented Ethiopians.
As legalizing the citizens was found tough, the Consulate made a deal to waive penalties that would have been USD 200 per each year. And a deal has been reached to reduce the penalty to USD 200 regardless of the number of years of their stay.
“As the government here generates revenues from penalties, they shied away from pardoning undocumented Ethiopians.”
Following an announcement the Consulate made, around 3,000 citizens applied to return home but 1,500 initially agreed to pay the penalty and other expenses to the air ticket and laissez-passer. Finally, most of them changed their minds and stayed in the country.
To him, since last May 2019, over 2, 800 citizens were repatriated per the call while at the final round, before the closure of flights on March 17, 2020, nearly 446 Ethiopians including 50 people who were sheltered at the Consulate and 200 people who served prisons had flown to Ethiopia with three flights.
On a Facebook post on a page run by Ethiopians Living in Lebanon, a certain lady voiced that due to the lockdown services. “Only restaurants are open and the situation may get worse in the coming months as we may be unable to pay for house rent and food consumption.”
Some domestic employers are laying off workers due to the pandemic’s economic effects and she urged all to be by their sides in this trying situation.
The Ethiopian Herald April 24/2020
BY WORKU BELACHEW
