ETHIOPIA: Conference sets up a Desk for Immigration
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| Most Rev. Archbishop Berhaneyesus D. Souraphiel CM, Archbishop of Addis Ababa |
The Ethiopia Catholic
Church(ECC) has created an Immigration Desk at the
Catholic Secretariat in Addis Ababa Ethiopia to support the rehabilitation and
integration of repatriate citizens.
peaking to AMECEA Online News recently in Nairobi
Fr. Haile Gabriel Meleku said that the Catholic Church in Ethiopia is actively
involved in the rehabilitation and repatriation process because it is part of
the central committee in the illegal migration which the federal government of
the Ethiopia is currently undertaking.
Fr. Haile Gabriel Meleku said that the Catholic Church in Ethiopia is actively
involved in the rehabilitation and repatriation process because it is part of
the central committee in the illegal migration which the federal government of
the Ethiopia is currently undertaking.
Fr. Meleku
explained that many unemployed girls and boys especially from the rural areas
in Ethiopia have ran away in search of better lives or greener pasture in Israel,
Europe, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, United Arabs Emirates, Qatar and Lebanon.
“Many of the victims the majority of who are girls are not educated or well
exposed and are usually taken advantage of by the agencies that organize such
migrations,” he said adding that“In most cases, they don’t have proper
documentations and end up with forged documents.”
explained that many unemployed girls and boys especially from the rural areas
in Ethiopia have ran away in search of better lives or greener pasture in Israel,
Europe, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, United Arabs Emirates, Qatar and Lebanon.
“Many of the victims the majority of who are girls are not educated or well
exposed and are usually taken advantage of by the agencies that organize such
migrations,” he said adding that“In most cases, they don’t have proper
documentations and end up with forged documents.”
“The victims are
lured by the promise of better job opportunities, better pay and better lives,
something which is never the case. When these young uneducated and
inexperienced victims get to the Middle East, their documents are often
confiscated, they are exploited, abused, some jailed while others even killed,”
he said.
lured by the promise of better job opportunities, better pay and better lives,
something which is never the case. When these young uneducated and
inexperienced victims get to the Middle East, their documents are often
confiscated, they are exploited, abused, some jailed while others even killed,”
he said.
Fr. Meleku
explained that so far over 200,000 youth from Ethiopia have migrated to Middle
East and in some villages in Ethiopia, the situation is so bad to an extend
that there are no young people to care for their elders.
explained that so far over 200,000 youth from Ethiopia have migrated to Middle
East and in some villages in Ethiopia, the situation is so bad to an extend
that there are no young people to care for their elders.
Ethiopian
Ministry of Foreign Affair posted on its tweeter handle on Wednesday 27th
that the government has flown home over 50,000 citizens from Saudi Arabia after
a crackdown against illegal immigrants.
Ministry of Foreign Affair posted on its tweeter handle on Wednesday 27th
that the government has flown home over 50,000 citizens from Saudi Arabia after
a crackdown against illegal immigrants.
Ethiopia started
repatriating citizens living illegally in Saudi Arabia after a seven-month
amnesty period to formalize their status expired on Nov. 4th2013.
repatriating citizens living illegally in Saudi Arabia after a seven-month
amnesty period to formalize their status expired on Nov. 4th2013.
Fr. Meleku said
that while the Federal government of Ethiopia put aside 50 Million Birr (about USD 2.6 Million) for the purpose
of repatriation of its citizens from the Middle East, the Religious Leaders
have a role to play by creating awareness to the public through conferences and
workshops to enlighten people about the danger of illegal migration and also to
encourage people to remain in the country to improve their lives. “This is what
the Catholic Church in Ethiopia is doing through the Migration Desk at the
Secretariat in Addis,” he said.
that while the Federal government of Ethiopia put aside 50 Million Birr (about USD 2.6 Million) for the purpose
of repatriation of its citizens from the Middle East, the Religious Leaders
have a role to play by creating awareness to the public through conferences and
workshops to enlighten people about the danger of illegal migration and also to
encourage people to remain in the country to improve their lives. “This is what
the Catholic Church in Ethiopia is doing through the Migration Desk at the
Secretariat in Addis,” he said.
Fr. Meleku said
that the economy of the country is growing and the situation is improving, and
that the chances for the people to live a better life are there; what is needed
is for people to work hard.
that the economy of the country is growing and the situation is improving, and
that the chances for the people to live a better life are there; what is needed
is for people to work hard.
In addition to the
solving the problem the government of Ethiopia requested the religious leaders
to join hands with them to support the repatriates. As they arrive in Addis
Ababa from Middle East, the repatriates are provided with temporary shelter as
they are rehabilitated through counseling before they are taken back to their
homes where they originally came from. The government also ensures that they
are provided with means of survival through cooperatives which they are
encouraged to join.
solving the problem the government of Ethiopia requested the religious leaders
to join hands with them to support the repatriates. As they arrive in Addis
Ababa from Middle East, the repatriates are provided with temporary shelter as
they are rehabilitated through counseling before they are taken back to their
homes where they originally came from. The government also ensures that they
are provided with means of survival through cooperatives which they are
encouraged to join.
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| Religious leaders meeting Ethiopian Minister for Foreign Affairs to discuss issues of repatriation of citizens. Archbishop Berhaneyesus of Addis Ababa in pink scull cap also attended |
He said that the
government has taken a drastic measure to stop migration of citizens by restricting
the issuance of passports and making a close follow up of those who are leaving
the country and for what period. “Only those with clear missions abroad such as
attending meetings and coming back after a short while are given permission to
leave the country,” he said.
government has taken a drastic measure to stop migration of citizens by restricting
the issuance of passports and making a close follow up of those who are leaving
the country and for what period. “Only those with clear missions abroad such as
attending meetings and coming back after a short while are given permission to
leave the country,” he said.
Problem of illegal
migration is very common among African Countries where citizens are faced with
high levels of unemployment and desperation for better lives. On 3rd
October 2013, a boat carrying migrants from Libya to Italy sank off the Italian
island of Lampedusa. It was reported that the boat had sailed from Misrata,
Libya, but that many of the migrants were originally from Eritrea.
migration is very common among African Countries where citizens are faced with
high levels of unemployment and desperation for better lives. On 3rd
October 2013, a boat carrying migrants from Libya to Italy sank off the Italian
island of Lampedusa. It was reported that the boat had sailed from Misrata,
Libya, but that many of the migrants were originally from Eritrea.
Source:
AMECEA Social Communications
AMECEA Social Communications
