Famine Looms as Wars Rend Horn of Africa
The New York Times - May 17, 2008
Somalia - and much of the volatile Horn of Africa, for that matter - was about the last place on earth that needed a food crisis. Even before commodity prices started shooting up around the globe, civil war, displacement and imperiled aid operations had pushed many people here to the brink of famine.
But now with food costs spiraling out of reach and the livestock that people live off of dropping dead in the sand, villagers across this sun-blasted landscape say hundreds of people are dying of hunger and thirst. Read More.
Political Resolution Of OLF's European Branch
OromoLiberationFront.org - May 13, 2008
It is clear that Ethiopia shares border with all Horn of African countries. This places Ethiopia at the centre of the security complex of Horn of Africa. This opportunity gave Ethiopian government to play a double standard by imposing its interest on neighbouring countries. The Ethio-Eritrean war, the frequent incursion of Ethiopian army into Kenya and the full occupation of Somalia, alignment and misalignment of Ethiopian and Sudan governments - all these cannot be solved without probing into the underlying causes of the problem. The problem is as Ethiopia is the core of the Horn; Oromo is demographically, geographically and economically the core of Ethiopian Empire. It needs no prove that the unsolved problem of Oromo quest incurred always instability in the Horn. Since there is no peace in Ethiopia, Ethiopia looks for proxy war to suppress its domestic problem. In the last thirteen years TPLF/EPRDF has been tactically engaged in instigation of ethnic discord. To this effect, it apportions part of nation's territory to the other, and then instigates territorial claims, which it inflames into armed conflict. We call up on our people to be aware of "divide and rule" colonial principle.
We call up on all walks of Oromo individuals to stand together to overcome these crucial factors and co-ordinate every effort that will hasten the fall of Ethiopian regime. Read More.
Ethiopia's farmers struggle to cope with drought
Africast - May 14, 2008
Source: OCHA-Ethiopia (April 2008)
Food prices in Ethiopia have continued to soar with reports of an alarming hike of the cost of the cheapest grain, maize, in some markets of the drought-hit Somali Region reaching 700 birr (about US$70) per 100-kg bag, up from about 350 birr (US$35).
Meanwhile, poor performance of the short rains (belg) season in the first half of the year has forced farmers to switch to planting early maturing crops, according to reports by the UN Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and the World Food Programme (WFP). Read More.
Ethiopia's Bekele to attempt 10,000 metres record in Oregon
Reuters - May 14, 2008
Ethiopian Olympic champion Kenenisa Bekele will attempt to break his 10,000 metres world record at next month's Prefontaine Classic in Eugene, Oregon, organisers said on Monday.
Bekele set his current record of 26 minutes 17.53 seconds on August 26, 2005 in Brussels. Read More.
A fortuitous meeting and Minnesota doctors offer an Ethiopian woman a chance at a new life
MN Public Radio - May 11, 2008
Dr. Rick Hodes first met Merdya Abdisa a year ago, when she wandered in to the Catholic Mission where he works on behalf of the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee in Addis Ababa. Hodes is an internal medicine doctor who has lived in Ethiopia for 20 years.
His practice is filled with patients suffering from ailments that have gone untreated for far too long. But he had never seen anything like Merdya's tumor. Listen to feature audio (Real Audio).
Govt. rejects license for JimmaTimes
EthioGuardian.com - May 13, 2008
The Addis Ababa government's MOI rejected license for Jimma Times (JT) based on unknown reasons and JT managers said they will continue to fight for the license.
After JT's global presence was established in 1999 (ET Calendar) through its official website, Jimma Times managers said it took them more than half a dozen months just to get their newspaper office space registered by the local government, allegedly due to local government bureaucracy and inefficiency. Since then, they have not been able to secure a license for their independent newspaper. Read More.
Habtamu Dugo - Persecuted Journalist from Ethiopia - Speaks Out
Habtamu Dugo - Persecuted Journalist from Ethiopia - Speaks Out
Independence Institute - May 11, 2008
A persecuted reporter and academic, Mr. Dugo shares his experiences exposing human rights abuses in Ethiopia, restrictions on freedom of the press and what happens when a journalist dares to defy the brutal Ethiopian government.
Mr. Dugo's articles have appeared on about 10 opposition websites, mostly operated from the Diaspora in North America and Europe. Examples of these are online portals such as the Sudan Tribune, Gadaa, and on his own blog Free Oromia.
In addition, Habtamu talked about the deliberate deforestation of rare forests in the State of Oromia by the Woyane regime in order to clear rebel hideouts; some of these arsons dated back to 2002 when Woyane set ablaze the natural forests of Bale (a case of environmental genocide of Oromo's homeland.) Habtamu also pointed out the mushrooming illegal flower plantations as the main reasons for the high deforestation rate in Oromia. Finally, he stressed that the Woyane regime's lack of environmental policies was the reason behind the recurrent droughts in Ethiopia and was a threat to world's commitment to go green. Listen to this interview with Habtamu Dugo (Audio MP3).
For those who would like to contact an Ethiopian Embassy in their country and tell the government to stop the environmental assault in Oromia & other States of Ethiopia - click here to get the list of Embassy addresses.
Peace Rally by the Australian Oromo Community
Australian Oromo Community Association - May 6, 2008
- The Oromo people are subjugated to enormous exploitation on their own land along with many other minorities, including Sidama, Ogaden, etc.
- There is a continuous gross violation of human rights in Ethiopia - well known to the outside world (indiscriminate imprisonments, torture, killings, etc).
- As a result of this continuous repression and suffering, Ethiopia represents a major source of refugees in the African continent;
- Lack of basic rights which include freedom of movement, speech, press, peaceful protest, etc.;
- Misappropriation of Oromo and other people's land to non-residents;
- Lack of transparency, accountability and misappropriation of public funds;
Thus we would like to see Australian State and Federal governments to take all these into consideration before undertaking any co-operation with the current 'Tigrean' government of Ethiopia.
We believe those who value the Human Rights issue will support us in our efforts to expose these matters well beyond our expectations.
Finally we appeal to broader Australian public to be with us and understand the real issues that the Oromo are facing. Read More.
Who is looking out for Finfinne - Are Chinese-built structures in Addis safe?
Who is looking out for Finfinne - Are Chinese-built structures in Addis safe?
Gadaa.com Editor's Note - May 20, 2008
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Looking back, it is important to note that school buildings were the most affected by the quake. Thousands of children, who were attending classes, were buried alive underneath blocks of crumbling concrete walls. Whereas government buildings located in the same quake zone as the schools did not even get a scratch (so to say) from the earthquake. Over the past week, this fact has raised eyebrows among many engineers and experts of building safety standards. These engineers and experts ask: why would government buildings stand tall and schools crumble down when both structures were equally hit with the same quake? The answer exposes the poor and inadequate building safety standards and codes that have been in practice in China for years.
At this point, one has to question about the building standards and codes that the recent influx of Chinese construction companies brings with it to Africa, especially Ethiopia. As Woyane tries to divert attention from its failed social, political and economic policies, it has allowed uncontrolled, and probably unsafe, building frenzy in Finfinne over the last few years. In addition to making hundreds of Finfinne residents homeless (some even had their houses bulldozed while they were sleeping in them - as reported by BBC in June 2007), it is hard to come to grips with the fact that the main building contractors in Addis are Chinese companies. This becomes even difficult to live with after last week's earthquake and the building safety practices it revealed. If Chinese builders are building unsafe school structures at home in China (schools their own kids go to), how much ethics and professionalism would they possess to make the Ring Roads, the future home of the African Union, and other structures in Addis safe? Who is looking out for Finfinne?
China and Woyane have their own vested interests in being actors of the building frenzy in Finfinne. China lends its talented engineers and know-how's to build structures in Addis. In return, it opens up a huge market for its sub-standard merchandizes (and probably also future emigration home for its exploding population). Woyane gets to woo its "visual admirers," those who are writing books about the tall buildings in Finfinne while playing blind to the homeless crowd crawling on the steps of these buildings. Woyane also gets to buy some time in power by diverting attention from its failed policies. Therefore, why would Woyane risk stopping the building frenzy that has given it a short-term political gain by asking the Chinese builders tough questions on building safety? Woyane has no reason or moral capacity to be the enforcer of safety standards and codes in Finfinne; and as for the the Chinese builders, the appalling destructions have shown their professional integrity last week when collapsing schools buried kids alive. Gadaa.com wishes comfort to parents who are now mourning over their children's graves.
Have your say or pass the word below. Who is looking out for Addis/Finfinne?
The Afaan Oromo Immersion Project
The Afaan Oromo Immersion Project (AOIP) is a project intended to give Oromo youth, many of whom were born in refugee camps or within Canada, a chance to return to their country of heritage with the purpose of learning aspects of their Oromo culture and language that they may not otherwise be able to learn in Canada. Under the guidance of the O’z Up Oromo Youth Movement of Toronto, a designated committee will give equal opportunity to Oromos or friends of Oromos between 15-29 years of ages to travel to Oromiya, Africa for a two-three month period. During this period, these two individuals will participate in volunteer works within Oromiya community schools. These persons will help educate Oromiya youth on computer skills, health/HIV awareness, and English classes. In return, these youth will be given the opportunity to learn the Afaan Oromo language and immerse themselves in the Oromo culture. Read More @ www.AfaanOromo.org (click here).
Aid Agencies Say Thousands Of Ethiopians Facing Starvation
Aid Agencies Say Thousands Of Ethiopians Facing Starvation
VOA News - May 17, 2008
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies says it is taking swift action to help an estimated 40,000 Ethiopians facing starvation. The Red Cross is launching an emergency appeal for $1.7 million to provide urgently needed food relief.
Drought is a recurring phenomenon in the Horn of Africa. Many areas of Ethiopia, Djibouti, Somalia and parts of northern Kenya are facing losses from this year's harvests.
The International Red Cross Federation says it is particularly concerned about the welfare of some 40-thousand people in the Wolaita, Sidama, Moyale and Bale areas of southern Ethiopia. It says they are suffering severe food shortages.
Director of Programs for the Red Cross, Thomas Gurtner, says the emergency appeal is a stopgap measure to help tide these people over until the next harvest in October. "If they can plant now and if the rains actually come and this is the rainy season now-we are in the middle of it, then the prospects would be better for the future. So, it is a relatively short-term intervention as such," he said.
The cumulated effects of poor rains during the last two seasons have led to the deterioration in the physical condition of livestock. This has resulted in lower livestock prices and a reduction of family incomes at a time when the price of cereal has increased dramatically.
Gurtner says many people are at risk of starvation, especially young children and the elderly who are at particular risk. "I think we are not yet in front of a famine. You can see there is a danger of famine. We have moderate malnutrition rates that are starting to increase. It is creeping in. It is a silent onset, a slow onset disaster. Let us say these food distributions are now being carried out as also some of the agricultural support is carried out as a preventative measure to prevent people from being further destitute, having to sell off... stuff they have and not lose the little possessions they still have," he said.
Gurtner says the appeal will be revised as soon as full assessments are available. He expects more money will be needed to cover health needs as well as water and sanitation services.
Interview with Obbo Bulcha Demeksa
Ethiopian Reporter - May 9, 2008
"It must be clear, though, that I believe in a strong and prosperous Ethiopia." Obbo Bulcha Demeksa.
Following the decision by the Oromo Federalist Democratic Movement (OFDM) executive committee to withdraw from the recent local and by-elections, some members, including parliamentarians, have expressed their opposition to the decision. Some members even appeared on national television and claimed that they were not consulted at all about the withdrawal. It appeared that there was a challenge to the current leadership.
Question: We saw on TV that some of your members, claiming to be executive committee members, saying that they were not consulted about the decision to withdraw.
Obbo Bulcha: That move was initiated by one member, an obscure member. If you take Ato Mesfin Nemera, he is at least an MP and a well-educated man. But the man you saw on TV is just a messenger. He is nowhere near the executive committee. I think that person was misled or even bribed by some outsiders, to speak out against the decision in order to embarrass the party. Read More.
Djibouti president says in 'tricky' standoff with Eritrea
AFP - May 9, 2008
Djibouti President Ismail Omar Guelleh said his army is in a dangerous border stand-off with neighbouring Eritrea's military, according to a release issued Friday.
"There is a hostile action which poses real problems because it is a blatant violation of our territorial integrity, of our borders," the president said in the statement. Read More.
Dr. Berhanu's MJFD - a New Name for the Same Chauvinistic Abyssinianism
Dr. Berhanu's MJFD - a New Name for the Same Chauvinistic Abyssinianism
Gadaa.com Editor's Note - May 14, 2008
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By now, everyone might have heard about the formation of a new political group headed by Dr. Berhanu Nega. The group is called Ginbot 7 Movement for Justice, Freedom and Democracy (MJFD). On some Ethiopianist websites, this moment has been coined as the new beginning of "Ethiopia." In its Mission Statement MJFD states that it fights against using the "ethnic" card to attain political gains. However, its logo & Mission Statement are decorated with the tri-colors and the same-old-same "ONE Ethiopia - ONE Identity" stories that manifest the chauvinism of certain ethnic groups collectively known as Abyssinians. Therefore, it is clear that MJFD is a hypocrite from the get-go. For most non-Abyssinian nations & nationalities of the Ethiopian empire, the Abyssinian tri-colors & the "ONE Ethiopia - ONE Identity" stories were imposed on them starting from the reign of Menelik; especially, the tri-colors did not, do not and will not represent non-Abyssinian world views. However, time and time again, Abyssinian political groups (including the fresh-from-the-oven MJFD) attempt to convince others that they are totally against "ethnic" dominance while it is clear which groups are lurking behind their tri-colors and the "ONE Ethiopia - ONE Identity" stories.
Here is an eye opener for Dr. Berhanu and his MJFD colleagues, a new Ethiopia can only be achieved when the Empire's Abyssinian System of Domination is dismantled - no patching or brushing with fresh paint, but totally dismantled. MJFD is nothing but a new name for the same chauvinistic Abyssinianism - it is a let-us-try-MJFD-this-time-around endeavor to save the dying System of Dominance; one can tell that this is the case by looking at MJFD's logo & reading its Mission Statement.
As much as Abyssinians adore their tri-colors, Oromos - the largest nation in the Empire - adore their Odda symbol that manifests the Gadaa System, which is the right solution to Horn of African political instabilities. The Odda symbol stands for the Gadaa System of Governance, a system that had been reduced into non-existence by Abyssinian colonial regimes. For now, Gadaa.com has taken the liberty of modifying MJFD's logo in an attempt that it may bring a paradigm shift desperately needed in Ethiopianist camps. Any movement that does not include and celebrate Oromo values as equal is doomed from the start.
For conclusion, here's a great quote about the Gadaa System:
The Oromo tradition of Gumii Gaayoo*, which brings people together from all over (many many parts of) Oromoland is one of the most democratic institutions. And, I only wish that the Congress of the United States could operate in the democratic way that the Oromo Gumii Gaayoo operates ... (Dr. Donald Levine)
* Gumii Gaayoo is the Congress of elected representatives in the Gadaa System.
Kidnappings and Tortures in Somaliland
Human Rights League of the Horn of Africa - May 6, 2008
Two Oromo refugees are in a critical condition after they were kidnapped and tortured by Ethiopian solders operating in Somaliland.
1. Bayan Muktar Mohammed was kidnapped by members of the Ethiopian army in Wachale, Somaliland on Febrauary 2nd, 2008 and taken to a nearby military camp where he was severely tortured. Bayan Muktar Mohammed, who is originally from Western Hararge of Oromia region, is a UNHCR-registered refugee seeking asylum. Bayan was forced to flee his homeland due to continuous harassments and intimidations. He is a father of five; and head of a family of six, all of whom are dependent on him. Bayan Muktar, who managed to return back to Wachale, Somaliland after escaping from the military detention, is in a critical condition due to the severe torture inflicted on him; and one of his hands is paralysed, according to the HRLHA reporter in Wachale, Somaliland.
2. Abdumalik Adam Abdulahi age 32, born in Hararge/Dadar was kidnapped by unidentified armed groups in Hargessa on February 15, 2008 and handed over to Ethiopian soldiers. Abdulmalik was kidnapped at gun point from a place where he was working as a watchman. According to HRL reporter, Abdumalik was taken into the Ethiopian border to Jijjiga military camp, where he was held in solitary confinement for about one Month. He was subjected to continuous interrogations and torture while he was in custody. He was finally released on grounds that he was mistaken and kidnapped wrongly. Abdumalik Adam is also in critical condition due to the severe torture. Read More.
An outsider looks into the turmoil of the Horn of Africa
TC Daily Planet - May 7, 2008
Right now in Ethiopia, Eritrea, Somalia, Sudan and Kenya there is so much needless suffering. People willing to speak out for human rights, justice and freedom are beaten, imprisoned and killed.
In Ethiopia, we know that the Meles government uses starvation as a weapon in the Ogaden. We know that Oromo people are not allowed to exercise political freedom.
We know that in Gambela terrible human rights abuses have taken place. We know that the 2005 elections were an assault on democracy and a vicious display of human rights atrocities.
In Somalia, the entire world watches as one of the greatest humanitarian crises on the planet takes place. According to the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) Somalia is now the worst place in the world to be a child. Children are dying endlessly and needlessly from disease, hunger and violence.
Another serious issue is the Ethiopia-Eritrea border dispute. The border dispute needs a diplomatic solution and the U.S. should be working with both governments.
Unfortunately, U.S. relations with Eritrea are at an all time low, in fact they barely exist. Read More.
The 1st Australian Oromo Youth Forum successfully completed
Australian Oromo Community Association - May 4, 2008
The first Oromo Youth Forum held on April 27, 2008 in Melbourne successfully completed. The forum was attended by a good number of Oromo youth representatives, invited guests from Department of Immigration and Citizenship, Community Liaison officer, Multicultural Affairs.
The forum was marked by keynote speeches delivered by Prof. Jemal Abawajy and Mr. Tarekegn Chimdi. Prof. Abawajy informed the youth that they should be prepare to be future leaders. He stated that educational qualifications, in an increasingly professional society, to be an important part of defining them. He urged the youth to stay in school and through graphs and charts, Prof. Jemal showed how education and training increases their chances of getting better jobs in the future. Mr. Chimdi discussed the gross human rights violations and incalculable material destruction inflicted by the Ethiopian government against the Oromo people. He told the youth that, as we speak, many Oromo youth and elderly are being killed, forced to quite schools simply for being Oromo. Read More.
Married Ethiopians cruise to pair of wins
Washington Times - April 29, 2008
Ethiopians Worku Beyi and Bizunesh Deba were married three years ago. They train together in the Bronx borough of New York City, where they live with other competitive Ethiopian runners. The couple frequently races together, too, for the Westchester Track Club.
Yesterday over 10 misting miles between Mount Vernon and Old Town Alexandria, Beyi and Deba put on dominating solo performances to sweep the George Washington Parkway Classic.
The 21-year-old Beyi shed eventual runner-up Steven Crane of Silver Spring after two miles and ended in 48:26, more than four minutes ahead of Crane.
The 21-year-old Deba shed her competition in the first two steps, darting ahead of eventual runner-up Erin Moore of Woodbridge by nearly a minute in the first mile. Deba, back in training for the past year after suffering an ankle injury, hit the finish line in front of Robinson Terminal in 58:52. Moore was far back in 1:05:52. Read More.
In an Empire where the "prisons speak Afaan Oromoo", the "Free Prisoner" campaigns are only for Teddy Afro
In an Empire where the "prisons speak Afaan Oromoo", the "Free Prisoner" campaigns are only for Teddy Afro (Gadaa.com Editorial - May 8, 2008)
Teddy Afro was called the "New Reggae God of Ethiopia" by the National Public Radio (NPR). For those who have heard his songs, that description of him by NPR is fitting. Teddy is a gifted artist who created new melodies by combining Afro-Caribbean music styles with Horn of African sounds. For instance, he fused Hadiya's traditional wedding song with reggae beats to come up with one of his hits - Seleme.
In the middle of his flourishing career, however, he was allegedly involved in a fatal hit-and-run automobile accident in November 2006. Teddy has been free on bail since that time, but Woyane has finally used the hit-and-run alleged crime as a pretext to tighten the noose around Teddy's neck. Now Teddy Afro is languishing in Woyane's most notorious prison - Qaallitti. He is an inmate in a prison where more than 85% of the inmates are Oromo prisoners of conscience. Being inmates of this same notorious prison is where the similarity between Teddy Afro and the other 85% Oromo prisoners of conscience ends.
Most of Teddy's fans see his imprisonment as a political persecution and are campaigning worldwide to free him from Woyane's firm grip. Some of his fans have even gotten the support of a U.S. Congressman. U.S. Congressman Dana Rohrabacher of California told Woyane's Ambassador to the United States to "free Teddy Afro immediately" in a 4-word letter on April 29, 2008. Since Teddy's imprisonment, there have been numerous articles and blogs urging readers to take Teddy as another Woyane victim, and rallies organized to solicit more diplomatic pressures on the TPLF-led regime to free Teddy. The same websites that "broke the news" that the Empire's "prisons speak Afaan Oromoo" are churning out campaign articles to free Teddy.
There is no doubt that Teddy Afro is a victim of Woyane's persecution. There is no doubt that Teddy should receive the due process of law for the crime he allegedly committed with the principle of "being innocent until proven guilty." There is also no doubt that his fans, and fellow countrymen and countrywomen should be campaigning to free Teddy!
With that said, it is sad to imagine how the 85% Oromo prisoners of conscience of Qaallitti feel about their destinies as the world rallies to free a single inmate, Teddy. It is very hard to convince those prisoners and their relatives that Ethiopia is a country that does not subject them to oppression because of their ethnic background; in fact, Woyane threw them into concentration camps for being Oromo, then the Diaspora Ethiopians ignored their situations for being Oromo for years until the born-again-freedom-fighter Aite Seye Abraha "broke the news" that Ethiopian "prisons speak Afaan Oromoo" in 2007.
Yet again, it is very sad to witness that in an Empire where the "prisons speak Afaan Oromoo", there has been no "free Oromo prisoners of conscience" campaigns from all corners of the Diaspora and Ethiopia. It is neither fair nor ethical to single out Teddy Afro and campaign vigorously for his release, and leave out the other thousands of Woyane's victims. It is time to build this momentum up in order to campaign for Teddy Afro's and the thousands of Oromo and other prisoners' of conscience unconditionally releases from all Woyane's Auschwitz concentration camps NOW! It is time to go beyond petty differences and strive to work for common goals. Free Teddy Afro - Indeed! Free ALSO all other PRISONERS OF CONSCIENCE languishing in Woyane's Auschwitz concentration camps!!
Mugabe parliament loss confirmed
BBC - April 26, 2008
The party of Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe has failed to regain its parliamentary majority after a partial recount of votes from polls last month.
Zimbabwe's Electoral Commission said results were unchanged in 18 of 23 seats where recounts had taken place.
Mr Mugabe's Zanu-PF needed to win nine seats to regain its majority, lost for the first time since 1980.
The opposition MDC says it also won presidential polls, although those results remain unreleased.
The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) said the presidential results could be announced after the completion of the recounts, expected by Monday. Read More.
Drought Spurs Resource Wars
The Indypendent - April 25, 2008
On a warm January afternoon in southern Ethiopia, thousands of ill-tempered livestock stand in groups with the pastoralists who have guided them for dozens of miles to drink. The animals dot an expansive field of Acacia trees, severed bits and pieces of dead grass and dust.
Earlier in the day thousands of young goats, sheep and calves took turns to have their fill of water. And the show will not end with the cattle; camels are still waiting in line. For being the best able to resist drought, now they will be last.
As the sun beats down, a human chain of water fetchers forms a line down the gullies and sings work songs to help keep rhythm during the backbreaking work of drawing water from the wells and delivering it to the troughs on the surface - sometimes from a depth of about 160 feet. This cluster of "singing wells," along with a mechanical well built by the Ethiopian government, are the only things standing between the thousands of animals here and death. Still, this is only the wind before the storm as the animals have to endure three more months of unprecedented drought before the rainy season begins. Read More.
Ethiopia must release mosque attack children
Amnesty International - April 25, 2008
Ethiopian forces and forces of the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia (TFG) have been accused of targeting civilians in an attack on a Mogadishu mosque on Saturday. Twenty-one people were killed in the attack, which Amnesty International has said may constitute a war crime.
Eleven of the twenty-one dead were killed inside the mosque, including the Iman Sheik Saiid Yahya, Sheik Abdullah Mohamud and a number of Tabliq Islamic scholars. At least ten other individuals were killed in the area around the mosque. Their bodies were later brought to the mosque by local residents.
Seven of the twenty-one were reported to have died after their throats were cut, a form of extra-judicial execution practised by Ethiopian forces in Somalia. Read More.
Ethiopia Reassessing Emergency Food Needs as Drought Continues
VOA - April 30, 2008
Much of southern Ethiopia has turned a putrid yellowish brown. As far as the eye can see, the grass is dead, long ago eaten down to the nubs by famished animals. The slightest wind raises clouds of dust.
The last two rains have failed, and while there have been some showers lately, the forecast for the next few months is grim.
Borana zone, near Ethiopia's border with Kenya, is home to millions of herders who move from place to place looking for fresh pasture for their livestock. But the cattle are skin and bones. They are dying in droves. Read More.
Flora Courts Resettled Oromia Farmers for Bio-Fuel
Addis Fortune - April 23, 2008
The local wing of Flora Eco Power, the Germany giant bio-fuel producer, is keen to work with 60,000 resettled farmers in the west Harerghe Zone of the Oromia Regional State. The company wants the farmers to cultivate castor seeds on a 22,000hc plot of land.
The Oromia Disaster Prevention and Preparedness Commission (ODDPC) envisages resettling 108,000 farmers by providing them 2.5ht of land each, in the east and west Harerghe Zones in its five year resettlement programme. Flora wants the farmers to devote a hectare of their holdings to the growth and supply of castor seed, which is an input in the making of bio-fuel, an energy source that is increasingly gaining global popularity these days.
Having discussed the outreach scheme planned by Flora, the Oromia Investment Commission and ODDPC appear to have been swayed into supporting the project. Read More.
World Food Program warns of 'silent tsunami' of hunger
Seattle Post Intelligencer - April 23, 2008
Ration cards. Genetically modified crops. The end of pile-it-high, sell-it-cheap supermarkets.
These possible solutions to the first global food crisis since World War II - which the World Food Program says already threatens 20 million of the poorest children - are complex and controversial. And they may not even solve the problem as demand continues to soar.
A "silent tsunami" of hunger is sweeping the world's most desperate nations, said Josette Sheeran, the WFP's executive director, speaking Tuesday at a London summit on the crisis. Read More.
Ethiopian troops 'took children'
BBC - April 23, 2008
Amnesty International has accused Ethiopian troops of capturing 40 Somali children during a raid on a mosque last week, and called for their release.
The rights group condemned the killing of more than 20 people, including some religious scholars, during the raid.
It quoted witnesses as saying that many of the dead were unarmed civilians, and that some had had their throats cut. Read More.
Eritrea soldiers go into Djibouti
The Times - April 22, 2008
Eritrean soldiers have crossed the border into Djibouti and begun building defences, Djiboutian officials said.
"Eritrean soldiers made an incursion into Djibouti territory two or three days ago in the Ras Doumeira area," an official who did not want to be identified said in a telephone interview.
"The situation is not clear," he said, adding, "Top level negotiations are under way to resolve the problem." Read More.
Three Million Suffer from IDD in Western Oromia Alone
Oromo Affairs - April 22, 2008
"I have never seen any other country like this. If this problem continues, a generation will suffer." (Dr. Iqbal Kabir, UNICEF Head of Nutrition and Food Security in Ethiopia)
Dr. Kabir was referring to what he and his colleagues at UNICEF called in their report "A silent epidemic" - Iodine deficiency Disorder (IDD) - in Oromia. He had led a team of UNICEF staff on its second field trip to Western Oromia between April 22nd and 24th, 2007 to investigate the prevalence of IDD in that region and returned "absolutely convinced [that] the situation needs to be intervened without further delay". His team consisted of a communication expert and a nutrition consultant, both from UNICEF. The epidemic had been officially reported to UNICEF by Obbo Mesfin Namrraa - a WAFIDO MP from Najjoo - with a request to assess the situation and provide support. Read More.
Tune wins women's race at Boston Marathon in thriller
USA Today - April 21, 2008
When Dire Tune couldn't pull ahead of Alevtina Biktimirova with a few miles left in the Boston Marathon, she decided to bide her time and outkick her opponent at the end.
The plan worked to perfection -- barely.
The pair ran shoulder to shoulder from Heartbreak Hill on, exchanging the lead from time to time before Tune pulled away on the final turn to win in 2 hours, 25 minutes, 25 seconds on Monday to take the closest women's race in Boston Marathon history.
"I tried to run away from her for the last miles, but she's very strong," the 22-year-old Ethiopian said through a translator. "I was confident when I was not able to run away from her, I could save myself for the final kick."
Tune won in her first try at Boston. Read More.
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