The accelerated pace of exile from Eritrea has resulted in severe shortage of teachers and, consequently, the government has ordered all 2nd and 3rd year postsecondary students to terminate their studies and teach at the junior high schools.
The exile to Ethiopia and Sudan, which was averaging about 300 a month, has nearly doubled in recent months.
Thousands of Eritreans sheltered at Shimelba refugee camp in neighboring Tigray are being interviewed for resettlement in Western countries.
The exile has been, in some instances, quite dramatic. Most of the engineers who work for the Ministry of Public Works have left the country and there is speculation that the ministry might shut down. No Entry, No Exit
Most of the embassies in Eritrea do not provide consular services. Consequently, Eritreans used to go to neighboring Kenya, Sudan and Djibouti to get entry visas.
Most Eritreans under the age of 50 are supposed to be enlisted either in the armed forces or the reserve: the exit visas used to be granted only to senior citizens and Eritreans requesting to be re-united with expatriates.
Now, Eritrea’s immigration office has issued a blanket denial for all passport and exit visa requests from Eritrea.
The ban on exit visas may be related to the extra-legal exodus but, as usual, the government has offered no explanation or opportunity for the public to debate its directive. |
