Author: eradmin

The United Nations Special Envoy for Horn of Africa appreciated Ethiopia for opening up its routes to evacuate international staff and foreign citizens from Sudan and called for international support.

Briefing the diplomatic community and representatives of international organizations recently, State Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mesganu Arga said that Ethiopia has been processing the massive evacuations of nationals of 50 countries from Sudan based on their request.

According to him, the ongoing evacuation efforts require supports from the international community and relevant UN agencies.

In an exclusive interview with ENA, The UN Secretary-General Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa, Hanna Serwaa Tetteh noted that a lot of international organizations, embassies, and citizens from other countries are trying to leave Sudan because of the conflict.

“Ethiopia being a neighboring country is one of the countries which is being used by some international actors to try to evacuate their staff from Sudan. And I am very appreciative of the fact that the honorable minister said that Ethiopia is ready to make available Bahir Dar Airport and Gondar Airport for the evacuation of civilians from the conflict in Sudan,” Tetteh noted.

The special envoy also took note of the call the state minister has made for logistics support, for in the future the influx of refugees would increase.

“Even though your country (Ethiopia) has been very generous in opening itself up to be a route for evacuation, if this conflict continues…you will not just see people who are internationals, you will see Sudanese who will be running away from the fighting and who will try to cross the border here in order to be able to seek refuge from being attacked.”

Acknowledging that the evacuation activity puts a tremendous amount of pressure on the finance and logistics of the receiving state, the special envoy appreciated Ethiopia which has always been a welcoming state to refugees.

The situation in Sudan and the massive evacuation process is going to put a lot of pressure on Ethiopia, whose resources are already strained and stretched.

She noted that Ethiopia has resource limitations relating the rebuilding and reconstruction efforts in the northern part of the country.

“Of course, we don’t underestimate what that costs of your country in terms of resources. So we would very much like to encourage the international community to be as much supportive possible to Ethiopia’s efforts to facilitate the evacuation of persons and to also facilitate the reception of refugees,” she stated.

Despite all challenges, the special envoy commended the Ethiopian government for acting as a facilitator by making the airports available for use for evacuation and also the security and logistics arrangements put in place.

She also pledged that the UN will redeploy some of its resources to support Ethiopia’s effort and it will be working with the Ethiopian government as requested to support this effort.

The special envoy also called on the Sudanese forces to back the political process because fighting is not going to resolve anything but it is only going to compound the misery and suffering of the people.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has inaugurated Hallala Kella Resort, which is part of the national ‘Dine for Nation’ project.

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has inaugurated Hallala Kella Resort, part of the ‘Dine for Nation’ of the Koysha projec.

PM Abiy, accompanied byTagesse Chafo, Speaker of the House of People’s Representatives (HPR), regional chief administrators and top government officials, has inaugurated the resort.

The construction of resort, completed in less than tow years, has exhibited both indigenous and modern architecture designs, it was learned.

The resort contains presidential and modern bedrooms, where the Gibe III Hydropower’s manmade lake, lying in front of it, will be of captivating sight.

The resort is expected to play significant role in creating jobs to the community in the area.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency

The Cameroon Development Corporation (CDC) has been reported over the years to have provided employment to thousands of both young and aged men not leaving out women and children who served as cooks, cleaners, and nurses in Camp hospitals as well as help with the transportation of products from the areas of harvest. CDC workers say they have been abandoned by the authorities especially those still living in the camps. The workers say they cannot enjoy the sweet labor day celebration as before.

These Workers of the Cameroon Development Corporation CDC say they no longer make merry and dance to labor day celebrations compared to the previous years.

“After a colorful march past at the Manga Williams Avenue Limbe, we the workers use to meet at SS club in Bota for part two of the celebrations. I mean back in the days of early 2017. I cannot say the same now in 2023 because the present workers are scared of what is happening in Cameroon now” Mr. Paul Hakim ex CDC worker.

” Labour Day especially in CDC camps back in the day could be compared to Christmas itself. Our wives use to cook serious good meals and treat us like kings for our hard work. I mean we use to really merry and feel comfortable moving around. Today we are all home. That incident that led to the abduction of 8 of our colleagues really dealt with us. The little courage we use to have all disappeared. We have children and wives to be fathers and husbands to” Mr. Yannick Njie a current CDC worker.

“We go without salaries for years, we have been totally abandoned. If the government can really revive CDC, I think everything will get back to normal. Our sons are angry because of reasons which are true but only a peaceful dialogue can solve” Mr. Peter Njoki.

The workers say, there is no completely happy and peaceful Southwest region without a peaceful and orderly well kept CDC.

Source: Cameroon News Agency

As Cameroonians join the world to celebrate International Labour Day, May 1, several persons have questioned the role of the Labour Ministry in Cameroon, highlighting working conditions as “deplorable”.

Reacting to the concerns raised, the Minister of Labour and Social Security, Gregoire Owona, says “There is a strategy conceived by the Head of State, which has to be implemented accordingly.”

“People might say that we do not serve any purpose, but I think we serve in a lot of things,” he told Actualite Hebdo host, Romuald Ntchuisseu Ngock.

“We are working on improving the working conditions according to the plan of President Paul Biya” Gregoire Owona said.

“When we talk about the improvement in the conditions of work, don’t only look at the salaries, also look at the working environment, look at how the workers are being treated by their bosses, look at the social advantages that the employers can offer to their workers.”

The Labour boss said emphasis is laid on the collaboration between employers, employees and the government according to this year’s theme which is; Resilience and Decent Work: Acting Together in the World of Work to Improve Living Conditions and Social Inclusion.

“The theme is to tell workers that despite the difficult context, despite the difficulties that we face, the objective is to attain decent working conditions. Let there be more dialogue between the employers and employees as well as the gov’t” Minister Gregoire Owona said.

The International Labour Day is in its 137th edition.

Source: Cameroon News Agency