Recently, the government has taken commendable actions in repatriating citizens from various countries of the Middle East where COVID-19 pandemic has hit hard. The actions of the government that are executed, despite challenges, has proven true the commitment of the government per its focus to citizen-centered diplomacy where the welfare and benefits of Ethiopians and Foreign Nationals of Ethiopian origin are protected.
For decades, Ethiopian young women and men have travelled to many places in search for jobs. One of the places they travel mostly is the Middle East. They have been benefitting themselves, family and their nation by working there. In addition, they used to serve as bridges of smooth relations among the countries.
Considering the need for helping citizens seize the job opportunities abroad, the government has been implementing various legal provisions and forming bilateral agreements where citizens can work and prosper abroad safely. The citizen focused foreign affairs policy, which is in draft stages, of the government has indeed bore fruit in ensuring the safety and benefit of citizens while they are engaged in their routine jobs in their respective countries of work.
So far, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has made viable efforts to emancipate many citizens home after they fell into many problems in the foreign countries and were not able to either work legally or return home safely.
Yet the supports the citizens need from the government were not limited to times of peace and stability. They need support to safely return home when some problems breakout. Hence the government has done commendable works to evacuate citizens when countries of the Middle East face conflicts. Accordingly tens of thousands of Ethiopians have safely returned home from countries like Libya and Yemen.
Now the government is also working towards bring back citizens from the Middle East countries as they have to return home due to the socio-economic challenges that arose due to COVID-19.
What makes the current efforts challenging are that even though the pandemic is spreading alarmingly the government has to wait until flights are allowed and arrangements are made to deliver citizens back home. As usual the citizens are able to return home as they have a safe and welcoming homeland.
Hence the government should be lauded for the effective protection of the safety of citizens abroad and their safe repatriation. International organizations that have specialized in protecting the safety and protection of migrant workers should also support the government’s move.
