Ethiopia – KMAUPDATES

Jul42020 by Kayongo Brian TimothyNo Comments

Ethiopia: African Development Fund approves $165 million grant for national COVID-19 emergency response

The grant, awarded from the country’s ADF-15 Performance-Based Allocation, will help bolster Ethiopia’s COVID-19 National Emergency Response Plan (NERP)ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast, July 3, 2020/ -- The Board of Directors of the African Development Fund (ADF) on 3 July approved a grant of $165.08 million to support Ethiopia’s response to the health and economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, including helping to ease fiscal pressures on the economy.The grant, awarded from the country’s ADF-15 Performance-Based Allocation, will help bolster Ethiopia’s COVID-19 National Emergency Response Plan (NERP). The NERP outlines a reliable, multi-sector approach to tackling the pandemic. It aims to expand social protection coverage for the most vulnerable, enhance capacity to contain the virus outbre...

Jul22020 by Kayongo Brian TimothyNo Comments

THE UK: Haile Selassie Statue former Ethiopian leader destroyed in London park.

Ethiopia, EUROPE, UNITED KINGDOM

A statue of former Ethiopian leader Haile Selassie has been destroyed in a park in Wimbledon, south-west London. Police are investigating the incident, which took place in Cannizaro Park on Tuesday evening. The damage to the bust was carried out by a group of around 100 people, according to an eyewitness. It appears to be linked to unrest in Ethiopia sparked after a popular singer, Hachalu Hundessa, was shot dead earlier this week. Demonstrations following his death saw a statue of royal prince Ras Makonnen Wolde Mikael, the father of Selassie, Ethiopia's last emperor, torn down in the eastern city of Harar. Hachalu's songs focused on the rights of Ethiopia's Oromo ethnic group and he had been a prominent voice in anti-government protests that led to a change in leadership ...

Jul22020 by Kayongo Brian TimothyNo Comments

ETHIOPIA: ‘Eighty-one killed’ in protests over Ethiopian singer’s death

AFRICA, Ethiopia

At least 81 people have been killed in Ethiopia after the death of a popular singer sparked huge protests in the Oromia region, a police chief said. Thousands of fans had gathered to mourn Hachalu Hundessa, who was shot dead on Monday night while driving. Police say 35 people, including prominent politician Jawar Mohammed, have been arrested. The motive for Hachalu’s killing remains unclear. But police say they have arrested two people in connection with the killing. Hachalu, 34, recently said that he had received death threats. He will be buried on Thursday. His songs focused on the rights of the country’s Oromo ethnic group and became anthems in a wave of protests that led to the downfall of the previous prime minister in 2018. “So far 81 people have been killed, in...

Jul12020 by Kayongo Brian TimothyNo Comments

AFRICA: Ethiopia arrests Oromo activist Jawar Mohammed, OMN shut down

AFRICA, Ethiopia

The arrest of prominent Ethiopian pro-democracy activist Jawar Mohammed has been confirmed by multiple sources from the country. His media outfit, Oromia Media Network, OMN, has also been shut down by authorities. The arrest comes in the wake of mass protests against the shooting and killing on Monday night of a famed Oromo musician and activist in Addis Ababa. Hachalu Hundessa, was celebrated as a symbol for the Oromo people – Ethiopia’s most populous ethnic group. His songs spoke out about their political and economic marginalisation and became a rallying point for activists in their fight against Ethiopian regimes. The musician had also been imprisoned for five years when he was 17 for taking part in protests, an analysis on the BBC Africa LIVE page added. Jawar was reporte...

May82020 by ShafiqNo Comments

Coronavirus – Ethiopia: UAE Sends Medical Aid to Ethiopia in Fight Against COVID-19

AFRICA, ASIA, CORONAVIRUS, Covid 19 Donations, Ethiopia, HEALTH, INTERNATIONAL, UAE

To date, the UAE has provided more than 455 tonnes of aid to over 41 countries, supporting nearly 455,000 medical professionals in the process On Thursday 7th May 2020, The United Arab Emirates today an aid plane containing medical supplies to Ethiopia to bolster the country’s efforts to curb the spread of COVID-19 and assist medical professionals as they work to combat the virus. Commenting on the aid delivery, His Excellency Mohamed Salem Ahmed Al Rashedi, UAE Ambassador to Ethiopia, stated: “For the UAE and world, Ethiopia has served as a symbol of courage in the fight against COVID-19. Our Ethiopian partners have been essential to efforts by the UAE and international organizations to distribute lifesaving aid to neighboring African countries.”“It is our honor to deliver another ...

May12020 by ShafiqNo Comments

Coronavirus – Ethiopia: U.S. NGO Project HOPE Donates 56,000 Protective Masks to Ethiopia

AFRICA, CORONAVIRUS, Covid 19 Donations, Ethiopia

Project HOPE, a U.S.-based nongovernmental organization (NGO), is providing more than 56,000 N95 protective masks to Ethiopia to support COVID-19 response efforts. Project HOPE Country Representative Dawit Abraham presented the personal protective equipment to Minister of Health Dr. Lia Tadesse at a small handover ceremony, which will be used to protect health workers in handling COVID-19 cases in government health facilities and communities across the country. Minister of Health Dr. Lia Tadesse Purchase, logistics and shipment costs for the protective masks were made possible through Project HOPE corporate funding and donations from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Project HOPE has been responding to the global COVID-19 pandemic si...

Apr292020 by ShafiqNo Comments

International Organization for Migration (IOM) Ethiopia assists hundreds of returning migrants in COVID-19 Quarantine Sites

AFRICA, CORONAVIRUS, Ethiopia, HEALTH

Ethiopia continues to receive thousands of migrants returned from countries across the region and the Middle East, in response to the COVID-19 global health pandemic. IOM, the International Organization for Migration, is assisting more than 9,400 migrants in the country’s quarantine facilities. Migrants have been sent back to Ethiopia from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Djibouti, Somalia, Sudan, and other countries over the last few weeks. IOM is supporting the Government of Ethiopia to ensure returning migrants receive medical care, food, shelter and other assistance during quarantine and after, including helping them return to their villages. There are 124 COVID-19 positive cases in Ethiopia and three have died from the disease. There are fears that, were the disease to spread, th...

Apr162020 by ShafiqNo Comments

Coronavirus: Almost a Million people petition for the resignation of the WHO boss

CORONAVIRUS, Ethiopia, HEALTH, INTERNATIONAL, INTERNATIONAL NEWS, UNITED NATIONS, World Health Organization

Almost one million signatures have been secured for an online petition calling for the resignation of the Director-General of the World Health Organisation (WHO). Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the Ethiopian politician who has led the Uniteds Nations-backed health body as director-general since July 2017, has been under fire over his handling of the Coronavirus pandemic, which has killed more than 100,000 people worldwide and sickened more than 1.7 million. The petition reads that “On January 23rd, 2020 Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus declines to declare China virus outbreak as a global health emergency” although that was done later in March. “We strongly think Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus is not fit for his role as WHO Director General,” the petition with 853,000 signatures, posted on the...

Apr92020 by ShafiqNo Comments

Taiwan denies racist attacks on WHO boss

ASIA, CORONAVIRUS, CRIME, Ethiopia, HEALTH, INTERNATIONAL, INTERNATIONAL NEWS, Politics, TAIWAN, WORLD, World Health Organization

Taiwan on Thursday angrily condemned accusations from the World Health Organization's (WHO) boss that racist slurs against him had come from the island, saying racism did not exist in Taiwan in an escalation of its bitter quarrel with the body. Taiwan’s exclusion from the WHO, due to objections from China which claims the island as its own, has infuriated the Taipei government during the coronavirus outbreak. Tsai Ing-wen, Taiwanese President Tedros said he has been receiving personal attacks in the last three months and he couldn't take it anymore and that is why he shared this with the world. Abuses and racist comments have been coming his way, giving him names like "black" or "Negro," he said he is proud of being back or the latter. He also said he doesn't care even the death ...

Apr62020 by ShafiqNo Comments

Coronavirus – Ethiopia: Notification on the second COVID-19 death in Ethiopia

AFRICA, CORONAVIRUS, Ethiopia, HEALTH

A 56 years old male Ethiopian who was confirmed for COVID 19 and admitted to the isolation center starting on April 2, 2020 has passed away today at 6:00 PMADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, - Starting from the onset of COVID-19 in Wuhan, China, Ministry of Health and the Ethiopian Public Health Institute has been doing preparatory measures to prevent and respond to the disease. After the first case is reported in the country, we have been creating awareness to the public to follow precautionary measures and notifying the situation of the disease to the public.A 56 years old male Ethiopian who was confirmed for COVID 19 and admitted to the isolation center starting on April 2, 2020passed away yesterday at 6:00 PM. He was receiving intensive care in the isolation center starting from the date of his a...

Apr52020 by ShafiqNo Comments

Coronavirus – Ethiopia: COVID-19 Response – Key Protection Concerns from the National Protection Cluster

AFRICA, CORONAVIRUS, Ethiopia, HEALTH

The response to COVID-19 will not only stretch the capacity of health services, but may result in the redirection of humanitarian assistance from other critical needsNEW YORK, United States of America, April 4, 2020/ -- Pandemics are devastating in any context. However, the danger posed by disease outbreaks (such as COVID-19) is magnified for the 8.4 million people (including 1.7 million internally displaced persons (IDPs)) already in need of humanitarian assistance in Ethiopia.The response to COVID-19 will not only stretch the capacity of health services, but may result in the redirection of humanitarian assistance from other critical needs, such as protection. As it is, only 10.5% of the Humanitarian Response Plan for 2020 (HRP), and 0% of the requirement for protection, are funded (as ...

Apr32020 by ShafiqNo Comments

Coronavirus – Ethiopia: Notification note on COVID-19 situational update- April 2, 2020

AFRICA, CORONAVIRUS, Ethiopia, HEALTH

The Ethiopian Public Health Institute (EPHI) conducted 65 laboratory tests within the last twenty-four hours for COVID-19 and all of them are negative. Currently there are twenty five (25) patients in the isolation center and of this one person is in critical condition receiving intensive care. In addition to the previously reported two recovered cases, one additional patient has recovered yesterday. However they are kept in isolation as a precautionary measure. A pneumonia patient was admitted in the isolation center and passed away yesterday prior to the laboratory test and later on confirmed that he was negative for COVID-19. Meanwhile Ministry of Health and the Ethiopian Public Health Institute would like to express their condolences for the family and friends. Amir Aman, ...

Mar312020 by ShafiqNo Comments

Coronavirus – Ethiopia: ECA contributes awareness materials to aid Ethiopia’s fight against COVID-19

AFRICA, CORONAVIRUS, Ethiopia, HEALTH

The Economic Commission for Africa and the UN Communications Group last week handed over to the Government of Ethiopia, awareness materials to ensure ordinary citizens have access to timely and accurate information in the fight against the COVID-19 outbreak. Over 40000 flyers and brochures were printed for distribution by relevant government entities. Topics include emergency preparedness and response, the disease and its conditions, healthy living and safety, among others. “We are honoured to partner with the Ethiopian Public Health Institute and the Ministry of Transport during this time of crisis,” said Ali Todaro, Chief of Conference Management Section at the ECA. Ali Todaro, Chief of Conference Management Secti...

Mar312020 by ShafiqNo Comments

Coronavirus – Ethiopia: Notification note on additional COVID-19 Confirmed Cases

AFRICA, CORONAVIRUS, Ethiopia, HEALTH

Ethiopian Public Health Institute conducted 66 laboratory tests within twenty four hours and two cases are confirmed for COVID-19, making the total cases twenty three (23). The confirmed cases are a 32 years old male who came from The United States of America on March 19 and residing in Addiskedame town, Amhara region and 37 years old female Ethiopian resides in Bahirdar City, Amhara Region arrived on March 21 from United Arab Emirates. Both of the patients arrived before the mandatory quarantine is in effect. Upon developing symptoms, they were isolated and the regional Public Health Institute sent the samples for testing to Ethiopian Pubic Health Institute and confirmed positive for COVID-19. Both of the patients are under treatment in the regional designated treatment center. The co...

Mar282020 by ShafiqNo Comments

Coronavirus – Ethiopia: Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed held a virtual meeting with the COVID-19 Ministerial Committee

AFRICA, CORONAVIRUS, Ethiopia, HEALTH

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, March 27, 2020/ -- Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed held a virtual meeting with the COVID-19 Ministerial Committee to discuss progress and provide additional direction and measures in the prevention and containment COVID-19.Considering that the number of positive cases has increased to a total of 16 as at March 27, 2020 and to ensure that these numbers do not increase exponentially, the Federal government has been taking heightened precautions to ensure that enough preventative measures have been taken.Following discussions held, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed announced the following additional key measures and calls for action: As of this afternoon, recent arrivals to Addis Ababa who cannot afford to be quarantined in the various hotels identified, will b transfer...

Mar252020 by ShafiqNo Comments

Ethiopia to continue its relief food distribution despite the rise in the number of Covid-19 cases

AFRICA, CORONAVIRUS, Ethiopia, HEALTH

The joint Government and partners’ verification of beneficiaries in the Guji zone was suspended until at least the two-week Government ban on public gatherings ends on 30 March; a measure taken in a bid to reduce the risk of transmission of COVID-19. In order to avoid further delays in relief food assistance to the displaced population, the first-round relief food distribution will proceed using an already existing beneficiary list, pending the verification exercise. Ethiopia counts 11 cases as of 23 March since the first COVID-19 case was confirmed in the country. Following Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s public announcement of the two-week school closure, as well as a ban on all sports events and large gathering, ECA Executive Secretary Vera Songwe and the Resident and Humanitaria...

Mar132020 by ShafiqNo Comments

AFRICA: President Kenyatta holds talks with his Ethiopian counterpart.

AFRICA, Ethiopia, FEATURE STORIES, KENYA

NAIROBI, 12 March 2020 (PSCU) – President Uhuru Kenyatta today held talks with Ethiopian President Sahle-Work Zewde who paid him a courtesy call at State House, Nairobi. The two leaders discussed a wide range of bilateral and multilateral subjects including the peaceful co-existence among communities living along the Kenya-Ethiopia border and the desert locust invasion. At the regional level, the two Heads of State discussed the challenges facing the Nile River basin and emphasized the need for pursuing African solutions to African problems. The meeting was attended by Cabinet Secretaries Raychelle Omamo and Sicily Kariuki as well as Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Macharia Kamau, Kenya's Ambassador to Ethiopia Catherine Mwangi and her Ethiopian counterpart to...

Feb262020 by ShafiqNo Comments

AFRICA: Ethiopia races against time to control locusts as the planting season starts.

AFRICA, AGRICULTURE, Ethiopia, locusts

Cross-border swarm movements with Kenya and breeding continues in Southern EthiopiaROME, Italy, February 25, 2020/ -- The Government of Ethiopia is racing against time to control Desert Locusts as the February – May Belg season starts.With support from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the Ministry of Agriculture is scaling up aerial and ground operations in Oromia and Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' (SNNP) regions – Belg crop-producing areas."We are at a critical stage at which we need to save the next and subsequent harvests and safeguard the livelihood of the population," said Fatouma Seid, the FAO Representative in Ethiopia.FAO's surge support boosts operations as funding gap growsSo far, FAO Ethiopia has recei...

Feb262020 by ShafiqNo Comments

ETHIOPIA: Political prisoners to be freed for the national good.

AFRICA, Ethiopia

Ethiopia on Tuesday said it would release dozens of high-profile prisoners from jail, including opposition activists held over an alleged coup and other high-ranking government critics. A spokesman for the attorney general’s office said investigations had been dropped against 63 individuals and they would be released from custody later this week “for the national good”. “The Ethiopian government hopes to widen the political and democratic space in the country with the freeing” of these individuals, said the spokesman, Zinabu Tunu. Amhara nationalists Among those to be released are cadres of the National Movement of Amhara (NAMA), an ethno-nationalist opposition group blamed for attacks last year that the government described as a regional coup attempt. Hundreds were a...

Feb192020 by ShafiqNo Comments

AFRICA: First Group of Over 1,400 Stranded Ethiopian Migrants Arrive from Tanzania.

AFRICA, Ethiopia, FEATURE STORIES, TANZANIA

The returns are supported by the EU-IOM Joint Initiative for Migrant Protection and Reintegration in the Horn of AfricaADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, February 18, 2020/ -- The costs of dangerous, sometimes lethal passages some irregular migrants make in Africa can be measured in many ways: in currencies, even in lives. Tamrat and Debebe – two young men newly returned to their native Ethiopia – measure their hardships in years. They’re not alone. In fact, they’re among 463 Ethiopian migrants already brought home this month thanks to the cooperation of the Governments of Tanzania and Ethiopia, working together to facilitate their release and return while the International Organization for Migration (IOM) with the European Union (EU) provided the post arrival assis...