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Ethiopian migrants held in Saudi Arabia call it 'hellish'
By ELIAS MESERET
Associated Press
ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia
(AP) — From a filthy cell in
Saudi Arabia, the Ethiopian
migrant spoke on a smug-
gled phone, fearing to give
his name. Some 300 coun-
trymen are detained with
him, he said. And no one
knows when Ethiopia's gov-
ernment might bring them
home.
"We are detained in a very
inhumane condition, sleep-
ing on waste overflowing
from a nearby toilet. We re-
ally want to go back home
but no one is assisting us, in-
cluding Ethiopian officials,"
he told The Associated
Press from a detention cen-
ter outside the Saudi capi- In this Friday, Dec. 22, 2017 file photo, Ethiopian Zeynu Abebe, 19, sits in between two others upon
tal, Riyadh. "We are beat- his arrival after being deported from Saudi Arabia, at the airport in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
en every day, and our only
crime was seeking a better Saudi Arabia this year
life in a foreign land." amid gunfire because of
New details are emerging coronavirus fears. A new
of the squalid detention report released Friday by
conditions facing thou- Amnesty International de- uation is so dire that at least Yemen, earning money to Teklu, told the AP that up
sands of migrants from scribes widespread abuses
Ethiopia — men, women in Saudi detention facilities,
and children — some who including beatings and
were chased across the electrocutions. Detainees
border from Yemen into described being chained
U.S. signs 10-year military
cooperation deal with Morocco
RABAT, Morocco (AP) security issues in the Sahel
— The United States region just south of Alge-
and Morocco on Friday ria. The U.S. counts Alge-
signed an accord that ria as a major ally in the
aims to strengthen mili- fight against terrorism.
tary cooperation and the Morocco is a major non-
North African kingdom's NATO ally of the United
military readiness over States. Esper met with
the next decade. Moroccan Minister of For-
U.S. Defense Secretary eign Affairs Nasser Bourita
Mark Esper signed the 10- upon his arrival Friday. Full
year agreement during a details of his plans weren't
two-day visit to Morocco, immediately disclosed.
his last stop on a tour of The military agreement
three North African na- "serves as a road map
tions, which began this for defense cooperation
week in Tunisia, where a and aims to strengthen
military accord also was the strategic partnership
signed. He also visited between the two coun-
Algeria, the first U.S. de- tries and support shared
fense secretary to meet security goals," accord-
with leaders there since ing to a statement issued
2006. He held a meeting by the Moroccan Foreign
with President Abdelm- Ministry. The agreement
adjid Tebboune and the centers on "consolidat-
army chief, Gen. Saïd ing common security ob-
Chengriha. No deals jectives, improving the
were known to be signed degree of military readi-
there, but the U.S. de- ness," a statement from
fense secretary reported- the General Command
ly discussed expanding of the Moroccan Royal
security cooperation and Armed Forces said.q
WORLD NEWS Saturday 3 OctOber 2020
just unbearable, especially
during those very hot days,
since we don't have an
air conditioner. And they
beat us with electric cords
whenever we complain.
And they took all our mon-
ey and cell phones."
He said he was detained
nine months ago because
his Saudi residence card
had expired. "The only
thing I want now is to return
to Ethiopia, but that's just
a dream for now," he said.
The detainees spoke on
condition of anonymity out
of fear for their safety.
The COVID-19 pandemic
has complicated their re-
patriation, with Ethiopian
authorities saying they
don't have the quarantine
capacity to handle the re-
Associated Press
turn of so many people at
together in pairs and be- for better lives. Amnesty In- once, which could over-
ing forced to use cell floors ternational said thousands whelm the health system.
as toilets. "Surrounded by of Ethiopian migrants had Ethiopia's state minister at
death and disease, the sit- been working in northern the foreign ministry, Tsion
two people have attempt- pay for their passage to to 16,000 Ethiopians are es-
ed to take their own lives," Saudi Arabia. "When the timated to be held in Sau-
Amnesty researcher Marie COVID-19 pandemic es- di prisons. She said some
Forestier says in the report. calated, Houthi authorities 4,000 have been repatri-
"Pregnant women, babies began ordering migrant ated since April.
and small children are held workers to go to the bor- "We are now working to
in these same appalling der, where they reportedly repatriate 2,000 more mi-
conditions, and three de-
became caught in crossfire grants by bringing around
tainees said they knew of between Saudi and Houthi 300 of them every week,"
children who had died." forces," the new report says. she said, adding that Ethio-
The abuses highlight one The International Organiza- pia has repatriated some
of the most popular, and tion for Migration says some 400,000 in recent years.
most dangerous, migrant 2,000 Ethiopians are strand- "The problem is compound-
routes in the world. The ed on the Yemeni side of ed with the fact that some
Saudi government did not the border without food, of our citizens that are re-
immediately comment. water or health care. patriated are re-trafficked."
Thousands of Ethiopians "I wouldn't have left my In a separate statement
cross into Saudi Arabia ev- country had I known this Friday, the foreign ministry
ery year after a journey hellish condition would noted reported abuses in
across the Red Sea or Gulf await me," another de- Saudi detention and said
of Aden from Somalia or tained migrant told the authorities are working to-
Djibouti and through con- AP. "I had some suicidal gether to confirm them
flict-torn Yemen, looking thoughts in the past. It is and improve conditions.q