A governmental committee authorized by the Foreign and Interior Ministries announced Tuesday that 124 illegal migrants, first batch, were deported voluntarily through Aden airport to their own origin countries.
The state-run Saba news agency reported that the operation carried out in collaboration with the International Organization for Migration (IOM), adding that the first group of illegal migrants were voluntarily transferred in line with international laws and in coordination with the IOM and international partners.
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.
On Monday, 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.
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.
IOM and partners have been providing critical lifesaving support like water, food and healthcare to those detained.