During the last twelve months IOM has assisted in the voluntary
return of more than 3,781 Ethiopian irregular migrants stranded in
the Middle East, Libya, Somaliland, Punt land, Tanzania and Europe.

This month alone, IOM will assist more than 600 irregular
migrants to return home in safety and dignity from Yemen. The main
places of origin in Ethiopia include South Wello in the Amhara
Regional State, Southern Tigray in the Northern part of the country
and the Hadia, and Kembata Zones of the Southern Nation and
Nationalities People's Region.

As the main stopover en route to Saudi Arabia and other
destinations in the Middle East, Yemen receives large influxes of
migrants on a regular basis, with irregular migrants from Ethiopia
accounting for a significant proportion of these.

IOM voluntary return assistance activities are carried out in
conjunction with ongoing in-country information campaigns targeting
groups likely to engage in irregular migration and encouraging them
to make informed decisions on migration.

One such campaign, recently launched by IOM Ethiopia involves a
radio drama entitled "Hilim Alem", or "Mirage", which recounts
real-life scenarios of irregular migrants en route to transit
locations and destinations. The drama employs famous local actors
to portray the realities and hardships of irregular migration, as
well as highlighting opportunities closer to home.

IOM will assist an additional 1,000 Ethiopian irregular migrants
to return home from Tanzania, Libya, Yemen Somaliland and Punt land
Somalia in the coming three months.

This programme is funded by the Swiss Government, the Tokyo
International Conference for African Development ( TiCAD) and the
Humanitarian Response  Fund (HRF), and is part of IOM's
Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration programmes providing
arrival orientation, counseling , medical support and start up
capital for smooth  reintegration upon return to the places of
origin. IOM works with the Ethiopian Department for Immigration and
Nationality Affairs, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and IOM
missions and government bodies in the receiving countries to assist
stranded Ethiopian migrants.

For more information please contact:

Tagel Solomon

IOM Ethiopia

Tel: 0115511673

E-mail: "mailto:tsolomon@iom.int">tsolomon@iom.int

or

Liyunet Demsis

IOM Ethiopia

Tel: 0115511673

E-mail: "mailto:dliyunet@iom.int">dliyunet@iom.int