Unlicensed citizens should take immediate action to come back home!

BY MOLLA MITIKU

Immigrants have been suffering abroad for various reasons. Some of them faced serious challenges just before they arrived at destination countries. The problems are caused by those who shouldered responsibility to help them cross boarders illegally. Some of them lost their internal organs and others lost their lives.  Besides, they were raped and hurt both physically and psychologically. A number of early age girls face severe abuses and were liable to early pregnancy and various diseases in foreign lands where they could find no one who to help them.

It is also usual for migrants to face similar challenges after they arrived at destination countries. In some cases, immigrants face government and citizens’ refusal to reside in those countries undocumented. We heard such trend now and again. For instance, Saudi Arabia has planned to drive out unlicensed foreign citizens for the second time. In its first attempt there was different chaos that a number of immigrants faced challenges. Unless, undocumented foreign citizens return to their home in the amnesty period, similarly they might suffer a lot.

Three months ago Saudi Arabia passed a decree to force all unlicensed foreign citizens including Ethiopians to leave the country. It gave three months amnesty period.   Some migrants have turned back to their home but the majority don’t seem responsive. Now, the period given by the Saudi government to force undocumented immigrants to leave that country is at a stone’s throw.  Unless, foreign citizens used the given period to make some arrangements and leave that country, they will face serious problems. 

Cognizant of that the Ethiopian government has been attempting to bring back home its citizens. As a result, over 20 thousand undocumented migrants returned home so far. About 75 thousand Ethiopians have also taken the travel documents. However, the registered number of Ethiopians to come back home is by far less than the expected number of undocumented Ethiopians residing in that country.

I think there is delusion about the next steps the government of Saudi Arabia could take. What it will do is as plain as the nose on our face.  Unlicensed Ethiopians and any other migrants should know what will happen  if the amnesty period comes to an end. There will be forcing unlicensed citizens.  It is highly expected that the Saudi police would raid door-to-door to look for any undocumented foreign citizens. They might face challenges including psychological and physical harms. It will be even difficult to get help for evacuation. 

Ethiopians shouldn’t let this to happen. Rather it is of paramount important for all undocumented Ethiopians to sense the gloomy future and decide on time to come back home proudly.  They should visit where registration is taking place and register for safe repatriation. That is why Prime Minister Hailemariam Dessalegn recently urged all unlicensed Ethiopians to leave that country before the deadline as the government has made everything ready to bring back those citizens home safely. It has been working hard to avoid any possible danger upon unlicensed Ethiopians living in Saudi Arabia until the last minute.

However, there are still challenges in the repatriation scheme. Firstly, there are brokers who have been still misleading the undocumented citizens to hide themselves. The brokers who agitate them  against the decree of the country and the efforts of the Ethiopian government to bring its citizens back because the life of the brokers  is relied on  them. As a result, the number of migrants who have taken repatriation documents is by far less than the large number of undocumented citizens residing in that country.

Ethiopians would not take migration as a way to escape poverty but they have to face it and defeat it through hard work.   In fact, things have absolutely changed at home. The country is incredibly altered in all aspects: political, social and economic.  It is now possible for anyone to change his/her life working at home.  While working at home, there are a large number of citizens who pulled themselves out of the quagmire of poverty.

Those citizens who need to live abroad have the right to do that but it would be better if they get residential licenses from destination countries. Unless that has happened, their lives would be at risk.

The unlicensed Ethiopians in Saudi should use the opportunity. Since the beginning of the decree of the amnesty period, the government has been attempting to safely bring home undocumented citizens in a great sense of responsibility. Its effort is to help citizens repatriated with their dignity respected. There are also some preparations and readiness to support them after they come back home.

Unless they use this opportunity, there will be similar problem to the 2013 where a number of citizens harmed, their properties were also plundered. The government had no enough time to make preparations. In fact, although there was not enough time for the government to make some arrangements like the present one, it invested a lot to help citizens come back home amid a number of challenges. It handled well the challenging issue without prior notice.  Despite the challenging situations, the government, with relentless efforts, handled it and managed to bring back around 150 thousand Ethiopians. 

In the contrary, at this point of time, the government has made all the necessary preparations for the Saudi police will begin driving out all undocumented citizens after the deadline. That is why the government has been doing its level best to ensure the safe return of Ethiopians.  Although more Ethiopians are expected to report and settle their return before the amnesty period,  a large number of unlicensed citizens residing in Saudi Arabia failed to respond as expected. 

As part and parcel of its efforts, Ethiopia has been dealing with  Saudi Arabia so as to have an agreement on holding the returnees  respecting their human rights while repatriated. 

Those who remain behind being disguised by some illegal brokers who always run after their personal benefits or any other reasons will face problems. It would be unreachable for the Ethiopian government to protect any possible danger during forceful deportation.  However, the government is ready to help all of its citizens if they go to the Embassy and temporary post centers before June 29, 2017.

Citizens must know the various opportunities at home at this time. That is why the people and government of Ethiopia are deeply involved to the safe return of migrants.

The government and people of Ethiopia have been working industriously in creating job opportunities at home and supporting those who create their own means of income.  Even though it demands lots of efforts, there is possibility to change ones own life working at home. There are millions of citizens in Ethiopia who have already accumulated a ransom of wealth in the past twenty six years working at home.

Ethiopians who entered those countries illegally have no rights to freely move from one place to another place to work even before the decree and many Ethiopians deported back home when they were found while moving from one place to another place. 

Repatriating unlicensed citizens is the urgent task of the government.  But this is not the last solution to avert the problem. The major solution could be working industriously to curb illegal migrations, which could be achieved through joint efforts of all stakeholders.

It is important for the government to strengthen what it has already started. It has already budgeted to  support the youth.   Although  it is undeniable that migration will remained being a challenge throughout the world with serious impacts on the socio-economic issues, there are efforts to curb the problem. Therefore, citizens should come back as the amnesty period is at a stone’s throw. It a will be a critical time for unlicensed citizens in Saudi unless they immediately take action and come back home proudly.