At least 27,700 Ethiopian migrants return home since April amid COVID-19 pandemic

More than 27,700 Ethiopian migrants have been repatriated to their homes since April this year, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM).

In its latest COVID-19 response update for Ethiopia on Saturday, the UN migration agency said that between April 1 and August 27, Ethiopia received more than 27,700 returnees. Among the returnees are 6,944 from Djibouti, 6,696 from Somalia and 5,329 from Sudan.

IOM also noted that it has registered some 912 new returned migrants in the last week in Ethiopia.

As the lead agency designated to support the Ethiopian government in managing returned migrants, IOM highlighted that it has continued to support the government in coordinating support for quarantine facilities in Addis Ababa and the regions, with 35 in total.

The UN migration agency also revealed that it has provided COVID-19 testing to 2,732 people in quarantine facilities and government health posts.

In coordination with Ethiopia’s Food Security and Disaster Prevention Program Coordination Office, IOM has also provided guidance on COVID-19 preventive measures and provided personal protective equipment to volunteers working in arrival areas. of returned migrants.

Amid the rapid spread of COVID-19 in the East African country and eventual preventative measures to contain the spread of the virus, the UN migration agency provides direct assistance to returned migrants in quarantine facilities, including registration , food, water and subsequent transportation assistance. , it was noticed.

It also distributes non-food items in quarantine facilities in the capital Addis Ababa and in several regional states, including soaps, dignity kits, medicines, kitchen utensils, clothing, sheets and mattresses.

As of Saturday morning, confirmed COVID-19 cases in Ethiopia reached 48,140 and the death toll rose to 758, according to the Ethiopian Ministry of Health.

According to the ministry, the number of recoveries is also increasing, with some 17,415 patients who have tested positive for COVID-19 so far.