EMERGENCY POST-ARRIVAL ASSISTANCE · EMERGENCY POST-ARRIVAL ASSISTANCE TO ETHIOPIAN MIGRANTS...

A PHOTO STORY

EMERGENCY POST-ARRIVAL ASSISTANCETO ETHIOPIAN MIGRANTS RETURNING FROM KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA

NOVEMBER 2013 - MARCH 2014© IOM 2014

PHOTO: © IOM 2014 ALEMAYEHU SEIFESELASSIE OSIRE MARY-SANYU MATAMA LILLIAN

EMERGENCY POST-ARRIVAL ASSISTANCE TO ETHIOPIAN MIGRANTSRETURNING FROM KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA

NOVEMBER - MARCH2013-2014

BACKGROUNDFollowing a new labour law to regulate migrant workers in the

Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), over a hundred and sixty thousand Ethiopians were deported back to their home country.

The first flight returning Ethiopian migrants arrived on the 13 November in Addis Ababa with only 35 migrants on a regular flight. Initial estimates of the total expected arrival by the Government of Ethiopia was 30,000 individuals. However this estimation soon escalated to 80, 000 as the daily arrivals soared to 7,000 to 9,000 migrants, arriving in chartered Saudi Air and Ethiopian Airlines. As the unprecedented arrival numbers continuously increased, the 80,000 estimation figure was again revised to 120,000 and later to 155,000.

By March 2014 the number exceeded the target to 163,018.

As per the request from the Government of Ethiopia, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) swiftly responded to the situation. IOM, in close coordination with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Agriculture, Disaster Risk Management and Food Security Sector (DRMFSS) as well as other humanitarian partners, began providing vital post arrival assistance to the returnees.

In response to this unexpected emergency situation, the Government of Ethiopia took immediate action establishing a reception centre at Bole International Airport and six transit centres in Addis Ababa.

With a high number of returnees brought back with daily massive airlifts, the emergency operation is one of a kind for the world.

ARRIVALUpon arrival, the returnees were received with a warm welcome home motivational speech. The welcome message states, “Welcome home. You should forget the past and what had happened; you should now think about the bright future and how you can work and flourish in your own country. The Government is ready to assist you in getting you back on your feet.”

33 percent of the Ethiopian returnees were women, whereas five percent were children. The arrival of women and children required the provision of dignity kits and food supplies upon arrival.

Originally the Government of Ethiopia expected that there will be 20,000 returnees that need to be repatriated. It was later experienced that the influx was much higher than what was previously anticipated. In March 2014, the total number of returnees ended up exceeding over 163,000.

At the beginning of the deportation, the Ethiopian returnees arriving did not have much of their belongings with them. Often the returnees had no belongings with them, no luggage and no clothes other than the ones that they were wearing. Hence they were in need of immediate assistance.

The returnees were welcomed by the Government and provided with laissez passer at the temporary immigration and processing centre at the airport.

Upon arrival, the returnees were received with a warm welcome home motivational speech. The welcome message states, “Welcome home. You should forget the past and what has happened; you should now think about the bright future and how you can work and flourish in your own country. The Government is ready to assist you in getting you back on your feet.”

IMMIGRATION

Most of the Ethiopian returnees from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) did not have passports due to the reasons of travelling through irregular means and/or their KSA sponsors confiscating them.

Upon arrival at Bole International Airport, the Ethiopian returnees were Special Identification Cards by the Government of Ethiopia to enter in to the country.

The Government of Ethiopia has stated that a Special Identification Card is issued upon entry to entitle the returnees for future reintegration assistance - involving various micro-finance and entrepreneurship programmes.

Returnees queue up to take advantage of the Special Identification Card the Government of Ethiopia was issuing for future employment and job creation opportunities.

PLANNING AND COORDINATION

Visiting the first wave of Ethiopian migrants returning from Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on November 13 and 14, the Ethiopian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Tedros Adhanom and State Minister Dewano Kedir commended IOM for a job well done. Dr. Tedros said, “We are very moved by the speed your organization has provided the assistance, and I would like to thank you on behalf of the Ethiopian Government for your efforts.”

On November 13, the Government of Ethiopia officially asked the International Organization for Migration Special Liaison Office (IOM-SLO) to assist with the large number of Ethiopian migrants returning to the country. The number of returnees estimated was 23,000. IOM organized a team and immediately provided the highly needed post-arrival assistance.

The Government of Ethiopia, IOM and its partner organizations formed exemplary collaborative efforts to attend to the demanding needs of the post arrival emergency operation. Above from left: Ambassador Dina Mufti Spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, State Minister of Agriculture Mitiku Kassa and Michael McDonagh Head of UNOCHA office in Ethiopia at IOM’s donor appeal.

As the projected number of returnees continuously changed, IOM prepared numerous donor briefings and funding appeals to its partners. The number of initially announced 23,000 returnees was revised upwards three times to 30,000, 80,000, 120,000 and shortly after to 155,000 returnees. The operation required a coordination of the Government, IOM and its partners.

At the IOM’s Donor Appeals meeting, partners were briefed about the emergency operation. Following the appeal, many decided to visit the transit centres and witness the operation first hand.

HEALTHASSISTANCE

A large number of returnees needed medial assistance. IOM assigned medical staff to each transit centre and provided the vital medical assistance. Most of the returnees with the likes of Upper Respiratory Tract Infections were treated at the transit centres; however, many with Tuberculosis, Pneumonia and pregnancies in labour were referred to hospitals for further treatments.

IOM provided post-arrival health assistance at all transit centres in cooperation with the Ministry of Health. IOM’s nurses and doctors were deployed to the airport and transit centres in response to the emergency operation.

The most common conditions treated and managed by IOM doctors and nurses, in collaboration with doctors and nurses from the Ministry of Health and other private hospitals include; upper respiratory tract infection, lower respiratory tract infection, physical and emotional trauma, psychological illnesses, among other diseases.

IOM refered more than 200 women who were in labour up on arrival.

Psychosocial care needs associated with overcrowded and poor sanitary conditions that the migrants lived with while in detention, as well as physical assault and gender-based violence.

CHILD FRIENDLY AREA

Over 8,000 children have returned to Ethiopia from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Child-safe areas and designated centre for pregnant and lactating mothers were also prepared. Dignity kits and baby formula for the mothers and children were also provided. Through different partner support’s, IOM was able to provide these basic support to children.

Despite all of the hardship they often referred to, most of the returnees were delighted to be home and were thankful that IOM, the Government and humanitarian partners supported them on arrival. As one mother stated, “I feel like I have a family now. I didn’t expect this warm welcome.”

All returnees at the Bole Processing Centre were provided with water and energy biscuits; in addition, children were provided with nutritional powder milk and sweets.

Two centres were dedicated to lactating and pregnant mothers.

ONWARD TRANSPORT

ALLOWANCE

The returnees were being deported with little or nothing. This has made it difficult for them to return home. IOM provided transportation allowance to the returnees in order to ensure that every returnee has the means to return home.

Returnees lining up in queues for transportation allowance distributed by IOM at the Bole International Airport processing centre.

The assistance that IOM provided included temporary accommodation and meals; family tracing and reunification support for Unaccompanied Minors in collaboration with UNICEF and Ministry of Women, Children and Youth Affairs, reinsertion grants, transportation from the airport to the transit centre, and onward transportation allowance to areas of origin.

In addition to IOM staff coming from sub offices around Ethiopia, IOM hired temporary staff to deal with the large influx. Many volunteers also assisted in the operation. Excluding the full-time employees, IOM has deployed 174 staff for this operation.

With a high number of returnees at hand, the operation was costing over 112,000 USD per day. With uncertain number of returnees remaining, it was difficult to predict how much more was required to keep the assistance operational.

DONOR VISITS

Different embassies and IOM partners supported IOM’s funding appeal. Many, such as H.E. Greg Dorey, the British Ambassador in Ethiopia, shown in the picture (Left), visited the transit centres to see first hand the emergency operation. The donors recognized the magnitude of the operation and commended the smooth cooperation between IOM and the Government to implement this operation.

His Excellency Alexander Rondos, EU Special Representative for the Horn of Africa, and ECHO officials from HQ and Addis Ababa Office talking with Ethiopian returnees at the Airport Processing Centre.

His Excellency Ambassador Aidan O’Hara, Irish Ambassador to Ethiopia, visiting the Bole processing centre after making a donation to assist with the operation.

Gabriel Okutoi, IOM’s Senior Operations Officer in Addis Ababa, giving His Excellency Ambassador Sanjay Verma, Indian Ambassador to Ethiopia, and the Indian Business Forum representatives a tour around the Bole Processing Centre.

Her excellency Ambassador Patricia M. Haslach, US Ambassador to Ethiopia, talking to an Ethiopian returnee at the Bole Processing Centre.

In response to IOM’s funding appeal, partner organizations and different embassies visited the transit centres and provided financial assistance.

PARTNER’SSUPPORT

Responding to IOM’s funding gap appeal, a number of its valuable partners responded in cash and in-kind support, making the operation possible.

The Association of French in Ethiopia ADFE and the Ethio-French Association, ACEDE (an organization that assists deprived women and children) was among the many organizations which supported the operation.

Among the needs of the returnees, one major gap was psychosocial support. MSF Spain was one of the partners providing this support.

The United Nations’ High Commission for Refugees UNHCR is one of the partner organizations which have responded to the needs of thousands of Ethiopians returning from KSA.

The Government of Ireland is one of the embassies which has supported the post-arrival assistance to Ethiopian migrants returning from KSA. The donation was used to help provide post arrival medical assistance, meals, transportation within Addis Ababa and onward transportation cash allowance to the migrants.

TRANSIT CENTRES

To relocate the migrants out of detention camps to Ethiopia quickly, the number of airplane flights were increased from six to 20 per day. To keep up with the large influx, in addition to the previously acquired transit centre at Gerji area, five additional temporary transit centres were opened in Addis Ababa: Kotebe - Teachers College, CMC - Civil Service College (two), Bole Millennium - Kebele 23 and Kebele 24- Addis Ababa Leadership Institute. The Bole International Airport was also used as a temporary processing centre.

At all of the transit centres, meals and accommodation were provided to the returnees. Water and energy biscuits, shoes for those who came barefoot was also provided. IOM also provided a transportation allowance and onward transport to the bus station at the transit centres.

With the opening of more transit centres, two were dedicated for women only. One was especially dedicated to pregnant and lactating mothers.

All transit centres were accommodating returnees for an overnight stay to those who arrived at night to avoid being mugged at night.

EXCHANGE

To ease the challenges of having to look for a bank while carrying luggage, foreign exchange offices were opened at the airport and transit centres. Temporary mobile sim-card stands were also set up at the airport processing centre. Free phone call centres were also set up both at the transit centres and at the airport.

Due to the formation of temporary banks, many were able to exchange the little money they have brought.

The temporary sim-card shops at the airport allowed the returnees to contact their family.

LUGGAGE AND MOBILE CLAIM

Collecting luggage at the airport has been one of the main challenges of this operation as often the luggage and the owner travelled separately and without being tagged. This has led to returnees having to spend weeks at the transit centres and in worst cases, never find their hard earned belongings.

With returnees having to handover their mobile phones while boarding at KSA, in addition to the luggage claims, jewellery and mobile phone claims were also a major challenge.

Identifying owners of mobile phones has proved to be a major challenge which was overcome by setting up a mobile claim centre where inspectors use different techniques to identify the genuine claimants’ request.

Especially at the beginning of the operation, untagged luggage has made it difficult to identify which luggage belongs to whom. Thus luggage inspectors were identifying the belongings by asking what belongings were inside.

The returnees were mainly originating from Jeddah and Riyadh area. Hence, luggages were lined up in two large cargo halls at the airport for easier identification. Despite the systematic arrangement however, the sheer number has made it difficult for some to find their luggages.

SPEAKING OF

TRAUMA

The majority of the returnees were travelling through the Eastern Route (via Djibouti and Yemen travelling on a smugglers’ and traffickers’ boat). They were often exposed to physical abuse and torture, in addition to being held for ransom. Even after arriving in KSA, many complained of being victims of sexual and physical abuses, extensive hours of working and withholding payments.

His Excellency Ambassador Greg Dorey, British Ambassador to Ethiopia talking to an Ethiopian returnee who spoke of the hardship she faced during her stay at KSA at Bole Processing Centre.

Often the returnees complained of excessive work hours and physical abuses. Remembering the incidents some burst into tears as they talk to psychosocial support agents.

Nuru Ahmed is one of the returnees who, after going through the irregular route, is thankful to get back home without any physical dam-age. Now he wants to go back to his farming and make a living. “I know I can do better with my farm. It was not a good decision to go to KSA in the fist place”, he told IOM.

Many returnees were thankful that they have survived the Eastern Route. Despite the large sum of money they had to pay the smugglers, they were thankful that they made it in good health.

Among the returnees from KSA, some individuals have stayed there for over 10 years, have married and gave birth during their stay. During the KSA Government crackdown, they were forced to split up with their spouses.

UNACCOMPANIED MINORS

Often young underage girls and boys join the irregular migration route and travel to KSA. Leaving school, the youth are persuaded by traffickers and smugglers. The glorified stories they hear from fellow migrants who have made it big working as a house maid or in factories, is also another temptation which lures the unaccompanied minors to trouble their parents with the payment for the smugglers and head to KSA.

IOM identifies the unaccompanied minors from the adults upon arrival and arranges for separate accommodation. In collaboration with UNICEF and the Ministry of Women and Youth Affairs, a family tracing and reunification program is conducted. IOM then arranges for transportation to take the unaccompanied minors to their parent or family.

Many young returnees, who were not able to make money, expressed feelings of guilt upon returning home to their families. They fear being judged against the few others who at least managed to buy a Television set or build extra room for their families.

Some teenagers sold the goats they were supposed to look after and use the money to pay smugglers to take them to KSA via Djibouti and Yemen. Often they ended up being tortured for ransom before they get to KSA.

DEPARTURE

IOM provided onward transportation from airport to the transit centres and back to the airport. At the beginning of the operation, IOM also provided transport to the bus stations so the returnees could access the public bus to their homes. As the Bole processing centre at the airport was set up; however, a long distance bus station was also set up right outside.

At the beginning of the operation, IOM provided the bus transport service from Airport to the Transit Centre and later from the Transit Centre back to the Airport so that returnees who could not find their luggage could look for the luggage and finally from the Airport to the bus station.

After the Bole processing centre was set up, a temporary long distance bus station was set up outside the centre making matters easier for the returnees to head home. This has cut the number of busses needed to transport the returnees from Airport to the bus stations. The busses were used to transport the returnees to the countryside instead.

Despite having the busses close by, the returnees were however, faced with the difficulty of having to stay behind at the airport and look for their luggage for as long as a month. IOM provided accommodation for the returnees as they wait for their luggage to arrive.

As opposed to heading to the bus station seven kilometres away, the setup of secured temporary bus station out side the airport, made it easier for the returnees to head to their hometown.

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IOM is greatful for all the financial support that it has recieved from its valuable partners. The operation would not have been possible without the contribution of these partners support.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

HRF‐OCHAHRF‐OCHAHRF‐OCHAHRF‐OCHAHRF‐OCHAHRF‐OCHAHRF‐OCHA

International Organization for MigrationSpecial Liaison Office (SLO) in Addis Ababa

P.O.Box 25283 Code 1000 Addis AbabaTel +251 116 611 097/98Fax +251 116 611 101

Email: iomaddis@iom.int

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