News from Eritrea
The Ministry of health, further to its strong acute Flaccid Paralysis (AFP) surveillance, has identified laboratory-confirmed cases of Circulating Vaccine Derived Polio Virus (CVDPV) in Eritrea. The Ministry declares this one unusual public health event as an outbreak according to the International Health Regulation (IHR) 2005.
As of 3 June 2022, the Ministry with its partners has taken the necessary measures to respond to this unusual event.
Source: Ministry of Information Eritrea
Honorable Mr. Fesehaye Haile, Governor of Zoba Maekel
Honorable Madame Amakobe Sande, UN Resident Coordinator
Honorable Mr. James Wakiaga, UNDP Resident Representative
Honorable participants, Ladies, and gentlemen
I welcome and thank you all for coming to take part in the gathering. It has been organized jointly by the MLWE and UNDP-Eritrea Office to mark the upcoming World Environment Day, 5 June.
Before going into making brief and general introductory remarks, I would like, on behalf of the ministry, to express my acknowledgment to the organizers for their effort to prepare the event and UNDP-Eritrea Office for their sponsorship.
Dear participants,
This year’s World Environment Day will be celebrated under the slogan Only One Earth. Millions of people across the world will celebrate the Day by engaging in different environment-related activities and pledging commitment and solidarity to contribute, within their means, towards achieving the goals of the ever-expanding global peoples’ movement aimed at making the Earth a better place to live in for now and generations to come.
In response to the global call of the Day, on our part, we are holding this awareness promotion gathering. Here short presentations will be made on some major environmental challenges facing our country and on what response is expected from every citizen individually and the Eritrean society collectively to address the challenges.
Early this week, as part of the event, a knowledge competition program on general environmental issues was conducted among young employees of different government institutions through Eritrean Television media. On 5 June, municipal residents will undertake neighborhood cleaning activities to show their solidarity with the international community in the fight against the causes of global environmental problems.
Dear participants,
Since our early childhood school days, we all knew in the universe there are billions of planets and other heavenly bodies. To the best of human knowledge, amongst the innumerable planets, it is only our blue planet Earth that is endowed with unique natural conditions favorable to life. Although it might be a bit late, people have come to realize the condition exclusive to our Earth is not something to be taken for granted. It is fragile and requires care. I believe that every one of us here has lived enough to witness how human tampering with the natural environmental balance can cause dismal misery in the lives of millions of people and other contemporary creatures. Now it is also clear that the main drivers of the environmental crisis of our time are built into the foundations of the global economy and the modern human way of life.
Since modern times, human activities and reckless interaction with nature have been disturbing the natural balance by excessive extraction of natural resources and production of toxic wastes that harm the Earth. Air pollution, global warming, and consequent climate change witnessed in our time, (and manifested by irregular rainfall pattern, freshwater scarcity, flooding, and land erosion, soil fertility degradation, desertification, wildfires, heat waves, pollution of fresh water and sea, loss of bio-diversity etc), to a larger extent, are consequences of human activities.
As these major challenges of our time are global, it is also clear that they need global solutions. And effective solutions to the challenges are known and well within reach of modern technology and financial capacity of the developed countries. Nonetheless, despite the available possibilities, ghg emissions, and global temperature have been on the rise and global environmental degradation has been becoming dire, In the face of these challenges, it is sad to not human reluctance to act accordingly. Particularly the reluctance to act shown by the countries that have the means and major responsibility is unacceptable by all measures.
Dear participants,
The fact that Only One Earth, an adage that encompasses simple and common knowledge, is selected again after 50 years to be the slogan for this year’s World Environment Day speaks a lot. It is meant, among other things, to remind the peoples and governments of developed and developing nations alike, that:
Dear participants,
As people of a country victimized by causes that are not of our making, it will be within our right to strongly urge and demand the major global emission contributors greatly cut their emissions in order to meet the global temperature reduction target. At the same time, we should realize our responsibility in addressing our domestic environmental challenges. Meeting this responsibility will be an important contribution that, we as a country, can make toward the achievement of global environmental goals.
In closing my remark, I urge everyone in this gathering to be vigilant advocates of the environment by example.
I thank you all for your attention.
Source: Ministry of Information Eritrea
A team of Eritrea researchers and experts are participating in the 11th World Potato Congress being held in Dublin, Ireland from 30 May – to 02 June 2022.
According to information from the participants, the congress includes presentations, focus sessions, poster presentations, technical tours, and networking by renowned scientists and international speakers on the challenges and opportunities in the potato business; health and nutrition; Innovation; sustainability; food security, and development.
Eritrea is participating in the overall sessions and is also sharing its experience with posters exhibition. It’s also worth mentioning that Eritrea’s experience has been quoted by three scientists from CIP, Teagasc, and Vita in their presentations.
It is to be noted that Eritrea has registered remarkable achievement in the potato sector, and has secured adequate potato seeds both for the highland and the lowland areas of the country.
More than 900 delegates from 61 countries are participating at the 11th World Potato Congress.
Source: Ministry of Information Eritrea
Excellencies,
Ladies and gentleman
It is my honor to address you this afternoon on behalf of the Government of the State of Eritrea.
It heightens our concerns to think that we are losing the fight of protecting our one and only planet, but this is the reality of the situation. No Glasgow pact nor renewed commitments can undo the harm done to our planet unless we fulfill our past commitments and promises.
While we are celebrating the Stockholm+50 International meeting and commemorating the 1972 UN Conference on the Human Environment we should ask ourselves: What is our world looking like today compared to 50 years ago? Notwithstanding the many meetings and conferences held, what actual advancement have we made to secure a healthy planet for all?
The Government of the State of Eritrea enacted a national ban on plastic bags in early 2005, today, Eritreans use cloth, nylon, or straw bags, many of which are locally manufactured. Eritrea as one of the countries in the developing world whose GHG emission footprint is close to none is committed to embarking on a carbon-neutral sustainable development pathway within the decade of action.
Realizing the critical importance of biodiversity and ecosystems services in supporting economic growth, sustainable development, livelihood, and human well-being and its contribution to achieving the 2030 agenda, the Government of the State of Eritrea has developed and mainstreamed a National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) that encompass 18 ecosystem-based targets, mainly on marine, agriculture and terrestrial setting.
Eritrea is committed to undertaking effective measures to stop the loss of and protect, biodiversity and ecosystem services, which is fundamental to achieving the sustainable development goals and rebuilding a resilient post-pandemic world.
Eritrea, like most other countries in our region, has a very vulnerable ecosystem. It is among the countries hardest hit by the effects of climate change due to its geographic location and low adaptive capability. Recurrent drought, unpredictable patterns of rainfall, spatial and temporal variability and subsequent water scarcity and depletion, crop failure and livestock death, genetic erosion, loss of endemic species, and the list goes on. All these difficulties, unless skillfully addressed, will erode the resilience of communities and add up to the embedment of poverty, and challenge development progress.
As climate change is borderless, no country, regardless of its emission contribution and coping capabilities, can escape from its impacts. Comparable to its scale and magnitude, mitigation of climate change impacts requires concerted global efforts and can only be achieved, if the international community, based on the principles of the UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change), makes an ambitious contribution toward Greenhouse Gas emission reduction on the bases of equity and in accordance with their common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities (CBDRRC).
Eritrea acknowledges the need for a clear strategic framework so as to contribute to averting global biodiversity loss. This indeed will contribute to the sustainable development goals and pave the way for the attainment of the vision “living in harmony with nature”.
Excellencies
Ladies and gentleman
The reference to political will is often made in various fora but the political will is determined by all of us, the International Community. On this occasion, let us renew our commitments and show solidarity with the countries most affected by climate change and let us ensure that another 50 years won’t pass-by without having secured a safer planet for generations to come.
Eritrea with all its challenges, past and present, is fully committed to adhere to the commitments it made under the UNFCCC convention and is guided by the principles therein.
I thank you for your kind attention.
Source: Ministry of Information Eritrea
In their struggle for gender equality, women have adopted different forms of resistance against oppression and domination owing to the differences in the political, social, and economic systems that govern nations. Generally, whereas women in the North mainly resist patriarchy, women in the South, industrially developing nations, have been resisting not only patriarchy but also colonialism.
Eritrea saw the emergence of the national liberation movement in the early post-World War II era. The Eritrean liberation movement was unique because it relied solely on its own human and material resources, unlike other liberation movements which were supported by world powers.
Conscious of the need for sacrifices to be made in the national liberation struggle, Eritrean mothers saw their children off as they left home to join the armed struggle. Eritrean mothers also engaged in different activities organized by clandestine operatives run by the liberation movements. There were women who joined the struggle along with all members of their families. Some were wounded and some others died, sometimes with their children and partners. There is no more ultimate sacrifice for a mother to make other than taking her own children along to join the armed struggle to fight against colonization and oppression.
In most liberation movements, women have been encouraged to join the struggle against the patriarchal ideology that influences the values, norms, and traditions of society. This, however, depends on the goal and principle of the leadership and the readiness of women to participate in it.
In the arduous, three-decade-long struggle of a self-reliant movement, the EPLF had a well-thought-out strategy not only to liberate Eritrea from the yoke of colonialism but also to transform the society. One element of the social transformation was women’s emancipation through a strategy that focused on mass education of the peasants across the country to encourage them to join the liberation movement.
As outlined in its National Democratic Program of 1977 and 1987, the EPLF’s wide-ranging objectives in relation to women’s rights are: to develop a union through which women can participate in the struggle for national and social transformation; to outline a broad program to free women from domestic confinement and raise their political, cultural and productive levels; to give women full rights of equality with men in politics, the economy and social life as well as equal pay for similar work; and to promulgate marriage and family laws that safeguard the rights of women. Such a strategy that is based on grassroots organizations created a conducive atmosphere for all Eritreans from various backgrounds – ethnic, religious, social, and economic — to actively participate in the liberation movement.
In the national liberation movement, the socially constructed ideology that created the division of labor has been strongly challenged, giving women opportunities to do jobs that had traditionally been considered men’s domains. In the liberation movement, women worked as mechanics, drivers, carpenters, barefoot doctors, nurses, teachers, etc. The progressive leadership of the EPLF encouraged many Eritrean women from different backgrounds to join the struggle and fight for both national and women’s liberation. According to the EPLF, women would gain equality through their involvement in political affairs and engagement in all kinds of tasks that had been performed by men. The EPLF’s policy in this regard can be summed up in the slogan “equality through equal participation.”
In the history of armed struggles, Eritrean women have made a remarkable and unique history, adding their exceptional contributions to the uniqueness of the Eritrean liberation movement itself. In comparison to other liberation movements where women’s role was auxiliary, Eritrean women’s experiences were extraordinary in that Eritrean women fighters affirmed the praxis of the principle of “equal participation for equal rights” almost across all aspects of the movement.
The exemplary role of freedom fighters set into motion notable progressive changes in the Eritrean women’s mindset and ways of life. Women’s emancipation began in earnest with rising social and political consciousness. The EPLF’s first action was to organize women at the grass-root level by forming consciousness-raising educators. That way, many women became active supporters of the movement and started to confront male domination. Women started to challenge the traditional patriarchal ideology.
Although the introduction of the principle of equal participation for equal rights in a very religious, multi-ethnic, and conservative society was challenging, the first generation of women who joined the liberation struggle took the lead in making it practical and became role models for other women who subsequently joined the movement. Their contribution was significant in mobilizing women in villages and towns, and the equal participation of women fighters profoundly changed the perception of gender roles.
Though the participation of women was encouraged by male leaders, it was seen as a controversial issue by some members of the struggle, especially early on in the struggle when there were very few female members of the movement. For instance, some male freedom fighters were concerned about women’s physical capacity and their wearing of short pants.
However, Eritrean female fighters insisted on going through equal training in fields that were traditionally reserved for men, demonstrating their capacity at all levels including combats. With such a strong stand by the female fighters, patriarchal views started to diminish. It was a turning point for both men and women who had to unlearn the patriarchal rules that perceive the male as superior to the female both physically and psychologically. The active participation of female fighters in the political, social, and cultural spheres as well as the mass education and discussions enlightened members of the liberation movement to question any form of discrimination based on gender.
The EPLF strongly believed that change should evolve from within instead of being imposed, and its leaders at all levels participated in the social activities of communities. It elevated its members’ and the society’s level of understanding of the value of women’s liberation through systemic integration of progressive values and by engaging in the daily activities of communities in the villages and towns.
Source: Ministry of Information Eritrea
Col. Gebrehans Woldgergis, Director General of Social Service at the Central Region, reported that a strong effort has been exerted to expand and develop social service provision institutions in the region.
Indicating that pre-independence the number of educational institutions that were 85 across the region has currently increased to over 300, Col. Gebrehans said that the number of student enrolment that was a few thousand has increased to over 147 thousand.
Regarding health service, Col. Gebrehans said that the number of health facilities was 14 at present 36 including 1 referral hospital, 3 community hospitals, 6 health centers, and 26 health stations.
Col. Begrehans said that significant progress has also been registered in medical facilities, human resources as well as supply of medicines.
Source: Ministry of Information Eritrea
Nationals residing in Washington and its environs celebrated the 31st anniversary of Independence Day under the theme “Independent Choice-Backbone of Our Pride”.
The week-long celebratory event featured various programs including cultural and artistic performances and the distribution of pamphlets explaining the deep meaning of Independence Day to nationals among others.
The event also included sports competitions in which about five thousand children participated as well as an official ceremony on 29 May in which over 2 thousand 500 nationals took part.
A banquet reception was also hosted in which over 50 invited Ambassadors, members of the Diplomatic Corps, heads of institutions as well as friends of Eritrea took part.
The Governors of Virginia and Maryland as well as the Mayors of Washington DC and Alexandria also issued official recognition of the Eritrean Independence Day and sent messages of congratulations.
Two members of the City Council also presented deliberation focusing on the heroism and determination of the people and Government of Eritrea.
Speaking at the occasion, the Charge d’Affairs at the Eritrean Embassy, Mr. Berhane Gebrehiwet called on the nationals to develop awareness and strengthen participation in the effort to preserve the victories so far achieved.
Source: Ministry of Information Eritrea