Ethiopians say they are being held in degrading conditions
Ethiopians languishing in Saudi Arabia detention centers see no hope of their release, as the latest visit of delegates to the gulf of nation failed to bear any fruit.
The Saudi government has been under pressure to release the migrants, who say they are being held in inhumane conditions and overcrowded cells without sufficient food and drinks and inadequate sanitation.
The last three years saw the repatriation of many citizens after an agreement was reached between the Saudi and Ethiopian government. But citizens who were arrested since last year have been unable to return to their homeland, an action denounced by human right organizations.
The Ethiopian delegation, led by the Minister of Finance, Ahmed Shide, visited Saudi Arabia last month, to seek solutions for imprisoned Ethiopian citizens in the kingdom, but little has changed ever since.
Following a meeting with higher officials of Saudi Arabia, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) said an agreement had been reached to facilitate the repatriation of imprisoned citizens and improve the treatment of inmates in detention centers. Prisoners, however, say they have seen no change after the visit concluded.
“Our condition is worsening, even though we were hopeful that we will be released after the visit by Ethiopian officials,” said an Ethiopian imprisoned at Shumeysi detention center, adding, “There is no end in sight for our suffering.”
Prisoners also say new inmates are joining severely crowded cells even after the visit.
“Over 100 Ethiopians joined our prison cell, bringing the total to 300,” said Abdu Ahmed, one of over 54,000 inmates imprisoned at Shumeysi detention center.
Detainees complain they were given insufficient food, stating they ate small flat bread in the morning and evening, and some rice for lunch or only bread.
Seid Yasin, an Ethiopian whom The Reporter talked to via a phone call, is detained in Shumeysi camp for one and half years. Seid blames Saudi officials for failing to quickly register and provide clearance service for prisoners waiting for repatriation.
“They are registering only 10 persons every day. Imagine the time it could take to register 50,000 inmates imprisoned in one detention center,” Seid said.
