Trapped in Limbo: Ethiopians in Thailand Plead for Government Intervention as Detention and Desperation Deepen

“Ethiopians who were released from detention because the government did not facilitate their return are being re-arrested by the police. So far, seven children have been taken,” - Families

“Are we not citizens? Can’t the government issue orders for Ethiopian Airlines?” - Ethiopian in Thailand

“Our children are starving to death,” - Parents’ Committee

Ethiopians who fled to Thailand in search of better opportunities, only to be trapped by smugglers and now remain in detention, have repeatedly called for government intervention.

Out of the thousands of Ethiopian migrants, 130 were released from detention weeks ago, while many others remain detained. Those released are still waiting for government support.

“What’s happening is no less than torture. Are we not citizens? Can’t the government issue orders for Ethiopian Airlines?

We see that Ethiopian Airlines operates flights to Thailand. Why can’t they at least bring back some of our people while returning from Thailand?

Isn’t Ethiopian Airlines ours? We came here to work because we were struggling financially. We want to return home with our earnings.

It’s deeply embarrassing that we have to beg for our government’s attention. Why can’t the Ethiopian government, which claims to assist other countries, help its own citizens here?

Even if we don’t get food, our situation is no better than before. The focus should be on those still trapped in detention. According to our information, over 400 Ethiopians remain detained. They can only leave if we make space for them.

We are at the Myanmar border. We crossed a river called Moe. There are many Ethiopians here, with up to 500 from a single company.

Most Ethiopians are being told by one company, ‘We will take you to another location.’ Moving to another place is to control everything. Our current location is relatively safe.

Myanmar, however, is a dangerous area where many people are suffering, with no foreign police presence. To leave the company we’re with, we need to pay $2,500. There are up to 25 companies in our compound. We are trying not to move to another compound.

We are waiting for those still in detention. Some have been here for a year because they can’t leave voluntarily.

The main reason we haven’t returned to Ethiopia is the inability to cover the full cost.

We were informed that the Thai government sent a letter to the Ethiopian government but received no response for a week.

From our camp, we need to go to Thailand/Mae Sot Airport. After negotiations with the Thai government, they will help us cross the river. Those without passports can stay for up to a month.

The camp is full of injured, sick, and abused people. Only Ethiopians are being questioned; Indians and Chinese are told, ‘We have you.’

We don’t know what they are doing. We only know they are conducting interviews and separating us by nationality, asking many questions.

Only Ethiopian citizens remain. They haven’t received a response from the Ethiopian government. If they had, there would be no reason to stay. Our fear is that the Thai government might reject us because they haven’t left,” they said.

What did the families of the Ethiopians say?

“Ethiopians still in detention are suffering. Out of 261 released detainees, 138 are Ethiopians. They are in a camp called Tak, 82 kilometers from the border and 377 kilometers from Bangkok.

The area is no longer safe. Out of the 261 released detainees from 18 countries, all were repatriated within eight days. Only Ethiopian citizens remain.

Those released were interviewed by local authorities and shared their suffering. Thai police then took them back. Because the government didn’t facilitate their return, even those released are being re-arrested. So far, seven children have been taken. None have been returned.

Other nationals were also interviewed, but their embassies took them within days. The 138 Ethiopians, though released, are still at risk because they haven’t returned to Ethiopia.

There are 138 in a Thai camp, 100 under Thai police control for other reasons, and 21 waiting at the border, totaling 259 Ethiopians. Their names have been sent to the Foreign Ministry.

Although the ministry claims to be organizing the information, no concrete action has been taken by the Ethiopian government.

What the released Ethiopians expect from the government is to send their expired passports to the Thai government, confirm their identities, and arrange flight tickets,” they said.

The Parents’ Committee added:

“After the Thai government said, ‘Take your citizens,’ many countries repatriated their citizens. But Ethiopian children are still suffering.

Some Ethiopians who tried to escape were caught by soldiers at the Myanmar border camp. Those who left detention are suffering because they haven’t returned home, and those still detained are also suffering.

Only Ethiopians remain in the military camp. They are not being fed. Our children are starving to death. The only reason they haven’t left is that our government hasn’t accepted them,” they told Tikvah Ethiopia.

Tikvah Ethiopia asked the Ministry of Foreign Affairs why the released Ethiopians haven’t been brought back quickly and why those detained haven’t been freed, but no response has been received yet.