Ethiopia called on citizens living in Saudi Arabia to return home as the deadline that the Gulf nation has given for foreign nationals to leave its kingdom is drawing on.
Minister of Government Communication Affairs Office Dr. Negeri Lencho called Ethiopians living in Saudi Arabia to return home in the remaining few days.
In a press conference he gave on Friday, Negeri said efforts have been carrying out to bring Ethiopian nationals home since the announcement was made.
However, he noted that the number of people returning back is still below the expected level.
Of the total 85,000 Ethiopians who secured exist visa, 35,000 have already returned.
He said "I would like to extend a message to our citizens that they should try to come back home through any means of transportation in the remaining few days and the government will continue to provide its support."
The government has intensified its efforts by facilitating air transport to bring back citizens within the remaining few days, Negeri said. Ethiopian Airlines has increased its weekly flight to different cities in Saudi Arabia to 17 for this purpose.
“We are considering various transport means to bring people who secured and are going to secure exit visas as the deadline is closer. We could consider shipping citizens to Djibouti and Sudan to use the opportunity” he added.
Few days are left before the end of the three-month amnesty given to illegal expats to leave the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as part of “A nation without violator”.
Through the campaign, Saudi Arabia reportedly set to deport over 5 million migrants who settled in the kingdom without proper living and working documents. (ENA)