The trend has been despite security risks in Yemen, which migrants from the region must cross to reach the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and beyond. Forced returns from Saudi Arabia were also significantly reduced, passing from nearly 121 000 Ethiopian migrants in 2019 to 37 000 in 2020. Moreover, COVID-19 border closures, which have left thousands of workers stranded, left many people facing exploitation from smugglers when trying to get home. As of September 2020, some 3 000 migrants were stranded within the East and Horn of Africa. This is in addition to tens of thousands of other migrants from the Horn of Africa stranded in Yemen.

Source: Ethiopian News February 25, 2021 15:00 UTC