Day: March 21, 2024

Addis Ababa: The second phase of the PROSPECTS partnership program, a ground-breaking initiative designed to strengthen the resilience, self-reliance, and inclusion of forcibly displaced persons (FDPs) as well as host communities in Ethiopia, has been launched today.

The Government of the Netherlands, along with Ethiopia’s Refugees and Returnees Service (RRS), line ministries, humanitarian and development agencies announced the launching.

Speaking about the accomplishments of the first phase of the program, Netherlands Ambassador to Ethiopia Henk Jan Bakker underscored the program’s transformative potential.

According to him, more than 20,000 out of school children and young people gained access to learning opportunities through Accelerated Learning and Skills Development Programs.

Also, 20,000 jobs were created, child protection services enhanced for 60,000 minors, and birth certificates issued to 26,000 children.

In this phase backed by 800 million Euro in Dutch funding across eight countries, PROSPECT
S aims to equip youth with job-ready skills, catalyze economic opportunities, fortify child protection systems, and improve access to vital services and infrastructure.

Lauding Ethiopia’s refugee-friendly policies and integration efforts, Ambassador Bakker emphasized PROSPECTS core mission of investing in the potential of all individuals, irrespective of their status as refugees, IDPs, or host community members.

”I would like to take this moment to thank the Ethiopian government for its welcoming policy to refugees; and specifically for its pledges to transform selected refugee camps into sustainable urban settlements, and to include refugees into existing national systems,” he noted.

For the ambassador, collaboration remains pivotal to ensuring a meaningful impact, necessitating continued cooperation between donors, implementing partners, and the Ethiopian government.

Refugees and Returnees Service (RRS) Director-General, Teyiba Hassen, on her part reaffirmed Ethiopia’s commitment to the Global Compact
on Refugees.

She further added the need for clearly defined roles, robust communication, and stronger RRS-partner cooperation to address gaps identified in the first phase of the project.

As the expanded PROSPECTS partnership takes flight, Ethiopia takes a significant stride towards empowering refugees, IDPs, and host communities, fostering self-reliance, and paving the way for a more prosperous future for all.

The director-general further underscored the urgency of bolstering support for host nations and refugees amid a burgeoning forced displacement crisis.

Ethiopia is the third largest refugee-hosting country with refugees mainly from South Sudan, Somalia, Eritrea, and Sudan.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency

Addis Ababa: A baby with two heads was born at Wachamo University Queen Eleni Comprehensive Specialized Hospital in Southern Ethiopia yesterday.

Pediatrics department head Dr. Basazen Tasew said that the mother delivered the baby at midnight.

The woman, a mother of five, gave birth to the baby with two heads attached below his neck, he added.

She gave birth through minor surgery.

The two-headed baby had normal regular gestation period and weighed 4.2 kilograms, it was learned.

Even though the baby is now healthy, there are indications that his development might be impaired in the future, Dr. Basazen stated.

A team of doctors in the hospital are closely monitoring the baby.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency

Addis Ababa: A five-year project that will be implemented in three East African countries has been unveiled in Addis Ababa today.

The project dubbed “Skybird Two” would focus on promoting women’s equality and inclusivity, it was learned.

Addis Ababa March 21/2024 (ENA) A five-year project that will be implemented in three East African countries has been unveiled in Addis Ababa today.

The project dubbed “Skybird Two” would focus on promoting women’s equality and inclusivity, it was learned.

Speaking at the launching of the project, Ethiopian Red Cross Society (ERCS) President Abera Tola said it will be implemented in Ethiopia, Rwanda, and Uganda over the next five years.

The project which focuses on women’s equality and inclusivity is designed to benefit more than 200,000 women.

According to the ERCS president, 4 million Euro a budget has been allocated for the project.

Of this, 80 percent would be funded by the Austrian Development Agency and the remaining sum by the Austrian Red Cross and Switzerland
Natural Resources Development Project.

One of the key objectives of the project is to establish institutions that empower women and enable them to assume leadership and decision-making roles, it was learned.

In addition, efforts will be made to improve access to clean drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) facilities, initiatives which aim to enhance women’s participation and empower them.

Austrian Red Cross Country Director, Temesgen Abebe, revealed on the occasion that the previous “Skybird One” project benefited more than 210,000 women.

According to him, the Austrian Red Cross is committed to continuing financial and technical support for the second phase of the project to succeed.

Austrian Ambassador to Ethiopia, Simon Knapp, on his part expressed his readiness to cooperate in all areas to ensure the project’s achievements.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency

Addis Ababa: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that the third phase of repatriation of 70 thousand Ethiopians who are in a difficult situation in Saudi Arabia will begin in two weeks.

State Minister, Ambassador Birtukan stated this whilst the National Committee chaired by herself advised on the plan to return citizens in difficult situations in Saudi Arabia, today.

She also said that the work of repatriating citizens to their country requires the joint coordination of federal institutions and regional states included in the national committee.

Ambassador Birtukan reminded the stakeholders that the necessary budget, logistics and shelters should be prepared for the returnees when they arrive in Addis Ababa for the repatriation of citizens to be successful.

The Director General of Refugees and Returnees, Tayba Hassan, on her part, stated that the relevant institutions and regional states should pay special attention to the work of returning our citizens who are in difficult situations.

The members
of the National Committee confirmed that they will make the necessary arrangements to complete the plan on time, according to Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency

By Charity Nginyu

Mazebouag Public School in the East Region of Cameroon has been rocked by tragedy and violence following the death of a child and a vicious attack on the school director.

The incident unfolded when a parent, identified as Yekini, son of the village chief, allegedly assaulted Mr. Bruce Mengom, the school’s director, with a machete, before setting fire to the school buildings and fleeing the scene.

The parent’s actions were reportedly fueled by a desire for revenge following the drowning of his child, a student at the school.

However, sources have revealed that the tragic drowning occurred when the child ventured alone into a nearby marsh, unbeknown to the school director.

Mr. Mengom, who sustained head injuries in the assault, is currently receiving medical treatment.

Source: Cameroon News Agency

Addis Ababa: The Government of Ethiopia, in cooperation with international donors, has been distributing humanitarian aid to 6.6 million people, according to the National Disaster Risk Management Commission (NDRMC).

NDRMC Public Relations and Communication representative, Atalel Abohay told ENA that assistances, both in cash and in kind, have been consolidated to the victims of man-made and natural disasters.

He said that food and non-food items as well as cash have been distributed in six months of the fiscal year.

Accordingly, over 894,000 quintals of grain and 540.5 million Birr cash have been given to the needy.

In the first and second rounds alone, the commission extended assistance to 7.3 million citizens and to 6.5 million people in the third-round.

In total, Atalel stated that 15.2 billion Birr worth support has been distributed in kind and cash.

The humanitarian aid was provided to inhabitants affected by natural and man-made disasters in Afar, Tigray and Amhara regions, it was learned.

The r
epresentative further said the Government of Ethiopia provided 894,302 quintals of grain from reserve food warehouses to fill the gap created by donor organizations.

International donor organizations that had stopped providing aid have been persuaded to continue their support through diplomatic engagement, he noted.

As a result, the organizations have provided 400,000 quintals aid, which covered 30 percent of the assistance, in the third-round.

Atalel further stated that the commission, in collaboration with donor organizations, has continued providing assistance for 6.6 million people in the ongoing fourth-round

Source: Ethiopian News Agency

By Charity Nginyu

A thief whose identity is yet to be obtained has been captured and tortured to death by an angry population in Mayor Street, Buea, during a robbery attempt.

According to sources, in the early morning of March 21, residents of the said neighborhood were rudely awakened by the presence of thieves prowling their streets.

Armed with guns and other weapons, the thieves attempted to rob an inhabitant, under the cover of darkness.

However, the vigilance of one observant individual turned the tide against the criminals. Upon spotting the intruders, they wasted no time in alerting the neighborhood, igniting a chorus of whistles that reverberated through the night until every household was alerted to the danger.

Faced with the collective reaction of the community, the thieves retreated into hiding. Unfortunately for the assailants, the concerned residents successfully apprehended one of them. They went ahead to take justice into their own hands, as they stripped him of his clothes, torturing him
mercilessly.

After moments of torture, while the mob was about to set the captured thief on fire, the latter succumbed to the pain, passing away on the spot.

Source: Cameroon News Agency

By Charity Nginyu

Mazebouag Public School in the East Region of Cameroon has been rocked by tragedy and violence following the death of a child and a vicious attack on the school director.

The incident unfolded when a parent, identified as Yekini, son of the village chief, allegedly assaulted Mr. Bruce Mengom, the school’s director, with a machete, before setting fire to the school buildings and fleeing the scene.

The parent’s actions were reportedly fueled by a desire for revenge following the drowning of his child, a student at the school.

However, sources have revealed that the tragic drowning occurred when the child ventured alone into a nearby marsh, unbeknown to the school director.

Mr. Mengom, who sustained head injuries in the assault, is currently receiving medical treatment.

Source: Cameroon News Agency