THE FIRST OF 100,000 ETHIOPIANS REPATRIATED FROM SAUDI ARABIA

Hundreds of Ethiopians arrived back in Addis Ababa on Wednesday, the first contingent of some 100,000 nationals to be repatriated from Saudi Arabia over the coming months. Around 900 returnees, including many mothers with young children, landed at Addis Ababa International Airport, the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) said. "We were crying daily," said Jemila Shafi, 29, one of the returnees from Saudi Arabia. "We are back in our blessed country after six months in prison," rejoiced Medina.