The Ethiopian government announced on Monday that it had repatriated more than 98,900 nationals facing difficult conditions abroad over the past 12 months.
The Ministry of Women and Social Affairs said the latest phase of the government-led initiative began on Sept. 15 last year. It included the repatriation of 2,463 undocumented Ethiopians from Saudi Arabia last week.
The government and its humanitarian partners are providing returnees with support at temporary facilities, rehabilitation services and assistance to reunite with their families.
Despite public education campaigns about human trafficking, thousands of Ethiopians are reportedly trafficked annually to Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries, where many work in the informal economy.
Some migrants also face imprisonment and life-threatening journeys across the Red Sea and through war-torn Yemen while attempting to reach Gulf countries.