ADEN, Yemen, May 29 (NNN-SABA) – The Yemeni government announced the deportation of 124 illegal African migrants, as a first batch, back to their countries, voluntarily.
It was reported that, “the first batch of 124 illegal African migrants was flown through Aden’s International Airport, in cooperation with the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) and other partners.”
A joint team of the country’s Interior and Foreign Ministries, supervised transferring the first batch of the illegal African migrants back to their countries voluntarily.
It added that the deportation process came in accordance with the relevant international laws and regulations.
This is the first time that Yemen’s government announce the transfer of illegal migrants out of the war-torn Arab country.
The IOM has repeatedly announced voluntary repatriation of African refugees from Yemen.
The IOM said in a statement that, over 2,300 Ethiopian migrants, detained in adverse conditions in Aden, Yemen, were due to return home this week.
It said that, an eight-day operation, set to begin on May 25, was delayed by rescinded flight permissions.
Since mid-April, authorities in Aden, Abyan and Lahj governorates, have detained irregular migrants, predominantly from Ethiopia, in makeshift detention sites.
At the peak, around 5,000 people were held in two sports stadium and one military camp without basic services.
In Aden’s 22nd of May Stadium, IOM screened and registered 2,315 Ethiopian migrants, including 150 women and 470 children, who urgently want to return home.– NNN-SABA
