Ethiopian Chrstians (Pentes think Ethiopia is a chrstian kingdom and Islam should not be tollrated by Europe and USA)

www.nazrett.com Home of Ethiopian News and Blog Breaking News Christian Tolerance, Islamic Jihad I am trying to put forth the thesis that the Ethiopian Christian Kingdom, prior to the great Muslim devastation from 1527 to 1543, was essentially a non-imperialistic nation, with a tolerant attitude toward its non-Christian subjects and regions. This tolerance, in its many forms as I will discuss below, allowed Islam to flourish during moments of weakness within the Ethiopian Kingdom, and eventually allowed the Muslims to mobilize into a destructive jihad in the mid-sixteenth century. Ahmad ibn Ibrihim al-Ghazi (1506-1543) known as Grañ or the Left-Handed by the Christian Ethiopians, spearheaded Ethiopia’s devastation by the Muslims from 1527 to his death on the battlefield in 1543. Grañ was from the southeastern Muslim tributary of Adal. He monopolized the acute jihadist mood of the Muslims of the time, sparked by constant defeats by Christian Ethiopia, and set out to lead this jihad himself. Having killed the sultan of Adal, he proclaiming himself both leader and Imam, and started his campaign by refusing to pay tributes to the Ethiopian Emperor. During his scourge, he managed to ravage the Christian Ethiopian Kingdom of much of its churches, monasteries, religious art and sacred texts, and embarked on the total Islamization of the country. At his death, his movement disintegrated, and Ethiopians were able to rebuild their lost Kingdom. The Ethiopian Kingdom, prior to Grañ’s uprising, was essentially a heterogeneous region, with Muslims, Pagans, northerners and southerners living under the dominant Christian Amhara civilization. This tolerant attitude was also practiced in the peripheral tributaries where the only expectation the Christian Ethiopians had of these regions was that they pay periodic taxes and tributes. These regions were left alone for the most part to practice their own religions and customs. Muslim tributaries also played an important role in trade routes and as intermediary traders. Ethiopian Christians were not really interested in leaving their highland Kingdom behind to live in the less appealing lowlands. On a deeper level, their Christian and “neighborly” preference was to leave their tributaries as they were without interfering too much. Certainly there were elements of proselytization, especially with the important monastic culture of the Ethiopian Church, but there was too much to integrate within the Church itself—between Church and State, between the various Orthodox factions, between Egypt’s Copts and appointed Patriarchs, etc. But wherever there was interaction between Ethiopian monarchs and their Muslim tributaries, Muslims were not treated any differently than the other non-Muslims of the Kingdom. They may have received even more tolerance in view of their importance as trade middlemen, and also their strong and cohesive culture and system. Yet, at the great moment of destruction, the Muslims had a completely different strategy, of annihilation in fact, of the Christian elements, despite the friendly beginnings between Ethiopia and the Muslims at the early stages of Islam’s history. Here is a summary of how I came to these conclusions. Earliest contacts with Muslims describe the refuge the Ethiopian (by now Christian) Aksum Kingdom gave to Muslims fleeing persecution, around 615 AD, including Mohammed’s son-in-law. This exempted Ethiopia from the jihad which started to take place in nearby regions. Later on, when the Muslims had control over Jerusalem, Ethiopian pilgrims were allowed to travel there, and even maintain holy sites in the city. Ethiopia depended on the Egyptian Copts to send the Abunes or Patriarchs from time to time. This led to conflicts and skirmishes with Muslim Egypt. At times, Ethiopian Christians even spoke out against mistreatment of Copts, often with beneficial results Perhaps the most significant contact Ethiopia had directly with Muslims and the Muslim world was through trade. Important trade caravans traveled from the interior of Ethiopia to the coastal outlets to the Red Sea and out to Egypt, Yemen, even as far out as India and Southern Europe. The caravans were controlled by Muslims from across the Red Sea, and also involved Ethiopian Muslims from within the Kingdom. These caravans eventually resulted with important Muslim settlements in the peripheries of the Christian Kingdom, Ethiopian Muslims lived peacefully and affluently in Ethiopia proper through their privileged role in trade, and received most of the benefits of Ethiopian citizenry. The peripheral Muslim regions were expected to pay tributes to maintain their inland routes with their trade caravans. As these Muslim settlements grew, they started to push for expansion inland, but were curtailed and some were put under some type of Ethiopian rule. This aggression, though, was initiated by the Muslims. Emperor Amda Siyon I (1313-1344) was really continuing with the strategy of bringing these trade routes under Ethiopian control (to reduce the Muslims’ aggression and to optimize the Ethiopian economy) when he began his ambitious expansionist scheme. It was more politico-economic rather than religiously motivated. Such Muslim lands that Amda Siyon and his predecessors put under Ethiopian control were expected to pay taxes and tributes, like any other non-Muslim regions. But they were generally left alone to pursue their own cultures and religions. They were, in effect, semi-autonomous regions, with their own rulers, religions and cultures. One important characteristic of the Ethiopians was their reluctance, as a group, to venture out of their beloved highlands into the “colonies.” Mostly this was a “laissez-faire,” tolerant attitude. Also, it was a lack of desire to live with heathen peoples, in inhospitable and climatically difficult areas. Another aspect is the heterogeneity of the Kingdom itself, with Ethiopian Muslims, Pagans, and other ethnicities from tributary regions living within the Kingdom, albeit all under the umbrella of the dominant Amhara Christian culture of the Ethiopians. Although the Ethiopians were expanding their Kingdom initially as a reaction to Muslim aggression, Amda Siyon’s “I am the Emperor of all the Muslims in the land of Ethiopia” was really said in a spirit of inclusion, not aggression. This is shown by his tolerance of the Muslims’ beliefs and way of life, and by his continuing his precedessors’ policy of allowing the Muslims to live in semi-autonomous peripheral regions practicing their religion freely within their own ethnic, social and cultural structures. While peripheral Muslim regions showed signs of submission, paying taxes and deferring to the Emperor of the time, they still used any opportunity to advance aggressively into Ethiopia, or to subvert what they believed to be a weak ruler. This invariably resulted with regional wars, from which the Ethiopians always returned victorious. These conflicts continued after Amda Siyon’s death, causing another Emperor, Zara Yaqob (1399-1468), to use more stringent methods such as forced conversions, which even got him admonishment from the clergy who criticized his mistreatment of Muslims through “futile deaths of men, arrests and beatings.” The regularly defeated and bitter Muslims finally declared jihad on Ethiopia. This was a far cry from the jihad-free promise they gave Ethiopians at the time persecuted Muslims were given refuge by the Aksumite Kingdom in early Islamic history. A number of factors contributed the Muslim leader Ahmad ibn Ibrihim al-Ghazi’s (Grañ’s) success. - Help from other Muslims, namely the Ottomans, who provided firearms to the Muslims, weapons which the Ethiopians did not have until later via the Portuguese. - Weakened religious and social structures within the Kingdom itself, due to the now heterogeneous society, intermarriage with Muslims and other non-Christians, conversions from Christianity, and other social factors. - Rivalries between feudal Ethiopian lords and lack of allegiance to the Emperor and the Kingdom, often with a weak Emperor at the realm. - Compromises and leniency toward the peripheral Muslim settlements—especially during uprisings and rebellions—by later Emperors, unlike Amda Siyon’s and Zara Yaqob’s stringent reactions. - Fear of Catholicism by an important ally, the Portuguese, whose assistance was sought later rather than sooner. Grañ was thus able to exploit these internal weaknesses, and set to destroy all of Christian Ethiopia and supplant her with a purely Muslim state. Quite different from the tolerant Ethiopian Emperors which allowed Muslims to sustain their beliefs, cultures and religions. Thus, my conclusion is that the Ethiopian Kingdom never set out to be an invasive, imperialistic presence. It tolerated semi-autonomous Muslim regions which it brought under control to monopolize trade routes and curtail Muslim aggression. Muslims lived peaceably in “greater” Ethiopia until they felt they could take advantage of the situation, and attacked, although they were continually defeated. But Grañ finally came with all the circumstances on his side. Ethiopians never endeavored mass, forced, conversions, never tried to coerce different ethnicities to change their cultures and societies, and for the most part left the Muslim regions apart from Ethiopia proper as semi-autonomous tributaries. And the Ethiopian Muslims (who were citizens of the Kingdom and not part or the regional settlements) lived affluent and privileged lives as traders, and to some extent as ambassadors to foreign lands where they took their caravans. The degree of intolerance set by Grañ during his five years of destruction with his aim of a “Futuh” or a complete conquest of Ethiopia was spectacular. All references to Christianity, churches, monasteries, religious art, sacred books, etc. were destroyed. And the Ethiopians were to live as a completely subjugated people. But, with the help of the Portuguese, and more astute leaders—Libna Dingel (1508-1540) and his son Gelawdewos (1540-1559)—the Muslims were finally driven out, and Ethiopia retrieved lost lands. It is hard to say how the Ethiopians should have dealt with these problematic Muslim tributaries. They could have been more diligent with their proselytization, or they could have depended less on Muslim traders and trade routes and consolidated this economy solely under Christian Ethiopians. Nonetheless, their non-interventionist style allowed Islam to flourish over the years, to devastating effect. My small readings about other Christian lands, their treatment of Muslims, the treatment by Muslims of Christians and other ethnic and religious groups, indicate to me that Muslims are generally and consistently intolerant of other ethnic and religious groups, and this trend continues today. The United States, Canada and Europe, it seems to me, are in a very similar situation in which Ethiopia found herself those many centuries ago. These tolerant, heterogeneous societies, giving equal or even priviliged treatment to Muslims, may all one day dissipate when internal weaknesses and external forces give Muslims—both within and without the West—the strength to carry out their destruction. I strongly believe that Muslims are not to be underestimated in any manner whatsoever.

Nile River Basin States in Appeal to Countries

www.nazrett.com Home of Ethiopian News and Blog Breaking News Nairobi — Countries of the River Nile basin have appealed to Egypt and Sudan to co-operate in the formulation of an agreement which would allow equitable utilisation of water resources. Water minister Charity Ngilu said it was unfair for the two countries to maintain a status quo on the usage of the Nile water resources at the expense of other states. Mrs Ngilu noted that the prolonged and protracted consultations on the Nile basin collaborative framework was causing anxiety and displeasure amongst riparian countries which are not benefiting from the resource. The minister said the 1929 agreement between Egypt and the United Kingdom has been viewed as protecting the interests of the developed downstream riparian states at the expense of the underdeveloped upstream states. Mrs Ngilu said: "We want the legal framework swiftly concluded and operationalised to save the Lake Victoria and reassure the livelihood of 15 million people bordering the basin. "Kenya expects Egypt and Sudan to cooperate since their needs are best served through the conservation of the Lake Victoria basin.We would like the downstream riparian states to assist in conserving the lake." Mrs Ngilu made the remarks in a speech which was read on her behalf by Water resources director John Nyaoro at Sun N' Sand Beach Resort in Kilifi during a workshop on Climate Change and Transboundary water conflict in Africa. She called on the two countries to ensure peaceful and sustainable development of transboundary waters to avert conflict with other states. The workshop which was organised by Institute for Security Studies was attended by participants from Egypt, Ethiopia, Sudan, Kenya, South Africa, Niger, Zambia among other countries. ISS acting director Roba Sharamo said the organisation through its conflict prevention programme had brought up the riparian countries to find means of tackling the stand-off through dialogue. Mr Sharomo urged Eypt and Sudan to agree to the sharing of the water resources so as to foster cooperation, conservation and boosting food security of riparian countries. An Ethiopian senior researcher Dr Debay Tadesse called for the preparation of a general framework for cooperation in the Nile River basin with specific reference to equitable utilisation of the water resources. Dr Tadesse said approaches to conflict resolution and resource management would develop the upstream riparian countries which were unable to meet food security. The reseracher demanded for the revision of the status quo through the generation of options to avoid potential confrontation and enhance stability and conservation of the water resources. "The first logical step is to discuss the issue of the Nile with a desire to finding a lasting solution. The degree of mistrust characterising the riparian countries has to be avoided through mutual agreement," Dr Tadesse said. Sustainable Development He noted that both the 1929 and 1959 agreements were only bilateral and did not include the other riparian countries of the Nile despite the fact that partitioning was done for all of the river's waters. The reseasrcher said unless the water resources were shared equally among the concerned states a conflict might occur. "The existing model based on the status quo early and mid 20th century is deeply flawed. The agreements which were made many years ago have been rejected by the rest of the riparian countries and this might trigger a conflict," he added. When reached for comment over the issue on the sidelines of the workshop, Dr Magdy Hefny who is the director of the regional centre for research and studies of water ethics said he was not in a position to talk about the matter.

In Ethiopia, millions face hunger as drought sweeps East Africa

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Waves of erratic weather and poor crop production are cascading toward a new disaster in Ethiopia: 6.2 million Ethiopians are now facing hunger as a devastating drought grips East Africa. They are in need of immediate food assistance.


For families of herders and part-time farmers in the Oromiya and Tigray regions, the need is particularly acute. Malnutrition levels among the poorest of them have climbed above emergency thresholds set by the World Health Organization. In addition to those needing this emergency assistance, the Ethiopian government is helping 7.5 million other people with food and cash through its Productive Safety Net Program.



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Bossaso - The United Nations is assisting Somalia's Puntland State government institute a better public f...Oxfam America is responding to the new crisis with a multi-part relief plan that aims to help about 350,000 people in Tigray and Oromiya. The initiative, which needs the financial support of donors to reach all the intended beneficiaries, includes supplemental feeding for mothers and children, meals for school children, a cash-for-work program that provides families with money to buy food in exchange for labor on community projects, and veterinary care for livestock. The latter will help to ensure cattle, goats, and sheep can weather the drought and continue to provide critical food and income for herding families.



"If we are able to respond in a timely way, we can reach these people, save lives, save livelihoods, and help people to be resilient to future shocks," said Abera Tola, Oxfam America's regional director for the Horn of Africa.



In parts of Oromiya's Borena Zone, the pressure on dwindling resources has increased as migrating herders and their livestock have swept in from Kenya in search of pasture and water. An Oxfam assessment team, sent to the region in early August, reported an estimated 100,000 extra animals, mostly cattle, were severely straining the water supply around in the Moyale, Dillo, Dirre, Teltelle and Arrero districts. In Dillo, the situation was so dire that families in five different areas evacuated their villages.



"The ponds are dry. The land is barren. There is nothing green," said Tola. "People are desperate."



In the dry, rural parts of Ethiopia people have long lived with periodic drought, and they have found ways to cope, such as by selling a few heads of healthy livestock and using the cash to buy food. But with droughts becoming increasingly frequent, there is little time—or no time—between them for families to recover their assets and build a new buffer against hardship. Instead, each bout of dry weather pushes many people deeper into poverty, making them more vulnerable to the next round of trouble.



"Drought is like fire," said an Oromiya elder looking back on last year's severe shortage of rain. "It just destroyed every household."



Finding a new way to live



In the Liben district of Oromiya's Guji Zone, the changes in weather patterns are pushing some herders to give up part of their old way of life—and turn to farming as a solution. Along the banks of the chocolaty Dawa River, Huka Balambal is growing onions and corn with the help of a small irrigation system he devised himself: A noisy pump connected to a long line of hose sucks water from the Dawa and spills it through a maze of muddy channels that Balambal has dug.



Tending solely to animals is what he had done all his life—until now. At 64, with no education and a large family to support, Balambal knew he had to do something different: the days of abundant milk from his cattle and plentiful grasses for them to feed on are gone. In the decades since he was a boy, the pastureland, and consequently the livestock, have declined, he said.



"I think, how can I survive this way?" Balambal asked. "How can I manage my family and care for my children. I look around and see the only solution is change of livelihood."



Along another stretch of the Dawa, where Oxfam America is working with the Liben Pastoralist Development Association, or LPDA, to build a full-scale irrigation system for 200 families, Edo Godana voiced some of the same worry.



"During our father's time it was very nice rain and a lot of milk and grass," he said. "Now, things have totally changed. I've been trying to cultivate land by rain, and it frequently collapses. We have fear for our children. What's going on?"



It's a question that's weighing on countless herders and rain-dependent farmers across Ethiopia as one difficult season gives way to the next. In the face of a changing climate, Oxfam has been working with people like Balmbal and Godana on longer-term solutions to the problems erratic weather creates. Pasture restoration, road construction, and helping people build small herds of milking goats are just some of the answers.



"Drought is a part of our lives," said Kote Ibrahim, LPDA's director. "How can we get out from it? We've reached consensus. We need sustainable development interventions."



And, added Tola, the underlying causes of poverty, which make people so susceptible to drought, must also be addressed.



"Poor people need a voice," said Tola. "Marginalized groups, like herders, need to be included in the development policies of the country. And women need an active role in development also."



Source: Reliefweb.int

Gulf of Aden immigrant rate soars in 2009: UN

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GENEVA — Since the beginning of 2009, a total of 994 boats and 50,400 clandestine migrants have crossed the Gulf of Aden between Somalia and Yemen, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees said Tuesday.




"September and October are the height of the sailing season and the number of arrivals by sea is staggering," UNHCR spokesman Andrej Mahecic said, with the figures representing a 50 percent increase on the same period last year.



The UNHCR said that so far this year 266 people have drowned attempting the crossing with another 153 missing presumed dead. The total dead and missing for all of 2008 was 948.



More than half those making the crossing are Ethiopians, Mahecic said, and almost all the rest Somalis.



"Those who make the crossing are fleeing desperate situations of civil war, political instability, poverty, drought and famine in Somalia and the Horn of Africa," he said.



The UN early this month reminded governments and sailors that they are legally obliged to help migrants who embark on the world's seas in vessels that are often unseaworthy.



Copyright © 2009 AFP. All rights reserved. More

Top Ethiopian Singer Kemer Yususf forms Oromia Airways (Abadula Airway?)

www.nazrett.com Home of Ethiopian News and Blog Breaking News

By Andualem Sisay-

Addis Ababa (September 28, 2009) – Kemer yusuf, known as among the best Ethiopian singer of Oromo music, steps into the growing local flight business of Ethiopia by forming Oromia Airways jointly with two Ethiopians business men.

Dinku Deyasa, Engineer Elias Ebsa and the Toronto-based musician, have now established DEK Oromia Plc with an initial investment of 40 million birr (around 3.2 million USD).Three businessmen who joined together and formed Oromia Airways have now secured two aircrafts with 14 and 19 passenger seats, Captain Abiy Makonnen Beri, Chief Operating Officer of the airways told AfricaNews.

“We have finalized everything related to funding and regulations and ready to start operation before the end of the year 2009,” he said. The airline will start its operation with 20 employees at its Addis Ababa and Dire Dawa hubs.

Oromia Airways also plans to get registered in Uganda and start international flight services by flying to Djibouti, Khartoum and Nairobi, according to Dinku Deyasa, Executive Vice President of Oromia Airways.

According to the Ethiopian government aviation rule, an airline can only be able to have an airplane with less than 20 seats to provide local flight services. Meanwhile, few weeks ago CAA has finalized drafting a new air transport policy which will increase the number of former seats on private domestic flights to 50.

In 2008 – 2009 budget year, the Ethiopian Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) granted operation licenses to a total of five private airlines with a registered capital of 120 million birr.

Amibara Agricultural Development PLc is licensed for pesticide spray and domestic cargo flight services. Teddy Air Transport, Tewodros Engineering Business Plc AberdAir Aviation and Oromia Airways are licensed for non-schedule passenger and cargo flight services.

Amibara Agricultural Development has become operational. It provides pesticide spray and domestic cargo flight service. Teddy Air and Tewodros Engineering Plc is owned by an Ethiopian businessman, Tewdros, who also owns a company called Rosseta. Rosseta last year bought a marble quarry from DMC Marbel, a sister company of DMC construction.

AberAir, which has fully transformed to local flight service two weeks ago was initially hired by Petronas, the Malaysian oil and gas giant which is prospecting for oil in Ethiopia. It is a private airline which provides charter flight service.

The company is owned by British Citizens and is based in Nairobi and registered in Ethiopia as a business of two Ethiopians with initial capital of 5 million birr. The operation of domestic passenger flight service is restricted only to Ethiopian citizens.

Currently there are 22 private investments on passenger, freight, spray and ground handling services with an estimated capital of 959,702,644 birr. However, only nine companies are currently operational.

In Minnesota, Ethiopians Brace for a Dreaded Visit

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By Douglas McGill, TC Daily Planet


September 28, 2009

Pulling up folding chairs to round tables, sipping hot sweet tea out of styrofoam cups and arguing politics into the afternoon, the men at the Horn Afrik café here last weekend all had the name of one man on their lips. Every time that man's name was mentioned, the volume of chatter was deafening.



I was the one native Minnesotan in the café, and a journalist, and when the men there learned that I wanted to hear about this man who was causing such a commotion, they gathered around me, eager to tell their stories and to show me their wounds.



Osman had a scar that runs from his lower lip to the tip of his jaw. Mohamed had a raggedy star-shaped scar in the center of his forehead, and another at the crown of his head. With a dozen men standing around me, I asked how many had scars that they associated with this man whose name was inciting them so much.



Four quickly raised their hands, the others looked at me shyly, sadly, their heads faintly nodding.



Jailing Innocents



The dreaded name is that of Mohamed Daud, the President of the Somali Regional State of Ethiopia, also known as Ogaden.



According to the men at the café, Daud's government, implementing central Ethiopian policy, has transformed the Ogaden into a brutal police state committing crimes against humanity including the jailing of thousands of innocent citizens, torture, rape, killings and the destruction of entire villages.



One specific bit of news set off the agitation I witnessed at the café: Mohamed Daud may visit Minnesota soon, perhaps this week.



"Why is he coming? What does he want to tell us?" asked Hassan, a native of the Ogaden town of Kabridahar, who came to the U.S. in 1996. "The suffering of the Ogaden people is astronomical, so for him to come here is hypocrisy at its peak."



Razed Villages



Widespread crimes against humanity in the Ogaden - many bluntly call it a genocide and "the new Darfur" - are hardly a secret by now.



The Internet is teeming with documentary videos smuggled out of the region (journalists are banned in the Ogaden); the American Association for the Advancement of Science has shown satellite photographs of razed Ogaden villages; and Human Rights Watch has documented "mass detentions without any judicial oversight" which they called "routine;" as well as "widespread and systematic attacks on villages," "killings, torture, rape and forced displacement" for which "the Ethiopian government bears ultimate responsibility."



About 5,000 refugees from the Ogaden live in Minnesota today, making it one of the biggest diaspora populations of Ogaden refugees in the world. Several other Ethiopian ethnic groups, such as the Oromo, the Amhara and Anuak, also have among the world's largest Ethiopian refugee diasporas in the state.



Minnesota Visit



That makes Minnesota a prime target for visits from Ethiopian leaders eager to build support - and to tamp down opposition - among the many Ethiopian refugee groups here.



Last August, Ogaden leaders traveled to Stockholm and London to meet with the Ogaden refugee populations living there, announcing later they had plans to visit North America soon, with Minnesota mentioned in one government announcement.



Then, last week, the Minnesota-Ogaden grapevine, which is fed by people close to the Ethiopian government who live in Minnesota, relayed news that Daud might arrive in Washington as early as this week - and might visit Minnesota soon thereafter.



Fierce Letter



In response, members of Minnesota's Ogadeni community last Friday delivered a fierce letter of protest to Daud's visit from the "Ogaden-American Community" to the Minnesota offices of Senators Al Franken and Amy Klobuchar, Governor Pawlenty, Congressman Keith Ellison, and others.



Speaking of the visiting Daud delegation the letter said: "These individuals are the very reason why we came to the United States, to escape with our lives. Now they are here with the sole reason to intimidate and strike fear in the hearts of Ogaden citizens who are living in Minnesota."



"These men are directly responsible for the continuous man-made drought, raping women and young girls, indiscriminate killing, burning of homes, destroying farms, and many other atrocities going on in Ogaden," the protest letter said.



"Running a Genocide"



The letter encouraged Minnesota officials to reject any overture made to them by the Daud delegation; to recognize the Ogaden tragedy as a genocide; and to hold Daud and other Ethiopian leaders accountable for crimes against humanity in the Ogaden.



The chaos inside the Horn Afrik cafe on Sunday was precisely the effect that Daud wishes to have on the Minnesota diaspora, some men at the cafe said, because emotional outbursts tend to neutralize an otherwise potentially focused and effective Ogaden diaspora.



"He wants to confuse us and intimidate us," said Siyat. "He might want to change our minds, but we can't accept that because he is running a genocide against our people."



International Opinion



None of the men interviewed gave their last names, saying their family members and friends still living in the Ogaden would be at risk of their lives if they did.



In recent years, Ethiopia has engaged its refugee diasporas more, recognizing their increasingly large role in shaping international opinion about Ethiopia.



International opinion is critically important to Ethiopia because its economy is relies largely on foreign aid. Ethiopia was the world's 7th largest recipient of foreign aid in 2006, receiving $1.57 billion in annual aid in the early 2000s, according to the Brookings Institution. Aid revenues could dry up if concerns about human rights abuses increase, and in recent years they have done so dramatically, especially in the Ogaden.



The Ogaden crisis has been sending refugees to Minnesota for more than a decade.



All-Out War



But the crisis worsened dramatically in 2007, when the Ethiopian government stepped up a counter-insurgency campaign against a separatist group, the Ogaden National Liberation Front, which it calls a terrorist organization with ties to Somali jihadists.



Today, nearly every Ogadeni refugee in Minnesota has friends or family members who are in jail, or who have spent significant time in jail, on suspicion supporting ONLF fighters. This is notwithstanding that the ONLF draws members from virtually every Ogaden town and village, so that declaring all-out war on the ONLF and every last one of its supporters is tantamount to declaring war on the entire Ogaden, its people and culture.



When asked how they got their scars, the men at Horn Afrik café all gave the same answer - they were beaten by Ethiopian soldiers, usually struck by their guns.



Fear for Family



"We are all afraid of Daud, even though we live here now," said Osman, a 65-year-old clan elder, who says that he lost two sons killed by Ethiopian soldiers. According to his network of clan members with whom he stays in touch, roughly 8,000 Ogadeni citizens are now being held in military prisons in virtually every city in the region.



They don't fear for themselves so much as for their friends and family back home, other Ogadenis at the café said.



"Daud wants to identify the activists in Minnesota," said Abdi. "He will write down our names so he can then go back and find our family members and put them in jail.



"Of course, he will have his picture taken with a few people here who support him, so he can go back and say his mission to Minnesota was a success."

Ethiopian Dictatorial acts in a passed 2 decades

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n Contempt of… the Truth!


September 28th, 2009
Alemayehu G. Mariam



In Contempt …



Commenting recently on an International Crisis Group (ICG) study dealing with rising ethnic tensions and dissent in advance of the “May 2010” elections, Ethiopia’s arch dictator wisecracked, “This happens as some people have too many billions of dollars to spend and they feel that dictating how, particularly, the developing countries manage their affairs is their God given right and to use their God given money to that purpose. They are entitled to their opinion as we are entitled to ours.”



The dictator’s opinion of the ICG and its findings was predictably boorish: “The analysis (ICG report) is not worth the price of or the cost of writing it up,” he harangued. “We have only contempt for the ICG. You do not respond to something you only have contempt for.” The dictator boasted that his “ethnic federalism” policy had saved the “country [which] was on the brink of total disintegration.” He marshaled anonymous authorities to support his fabricated claim that he is the redeemer of the nation: “Every analyst worth his salt was suggesting that Ethiopia will go the way of Yugoslavia or the Soviet Union. What we have now is a going-concern.”



Daniela Kroslak, ICG’s Deputy Director of the Africa Program, denied the dictator’s wild and bizarre denunciations. At any rate, the dictator’s criticism was a “tale full of sound and fury signifying nothing,” as Shakespeare might have said. He had not read the report! Why? Because it “was not worthy of [his] time.” The dictator unabashedly criticizes a report he had not even read– a textbook case of argumentum ad ignorantiam (argument to ignorance). In other words, because the report is “not worth the cost of the paper it is written on”, it is not “worthy” of being read; therefore, it is false and contemptible.) Trashing a report completed by a respected international think-tank (ICG provides regular advice to governments, and intergovernmental bodies like the United Nations, the European Union and the World Bank) and heaping contempt on its authors is a poor substitute for a rigorous, reasoned and factually-supported refutation of the report’s findings, analysis and arguments.



Truth be told, contempt is the emotional currency of the dictator. ICG just happens to be the latest object of the dictator’s wrathful contempt. The dictator’s record over the past two decades shows that he has total contempt for truth, the Ethiopian people, the rule of law, human rights, the free press, an independent judiciary, dissenters, opposition leaders and parties, popular sovereignty, the ballot box, clean elections, international human rights organizations, international law, international public opinion, Western donors who demand accountability, and even his own supporters who disagree with him and his flunkeys…



The Evidence: Does the ICG and Its Report Deserve Contempt or Credit?



The ICG report is balanced, judicious, honest and meticulously documented. Entitled, “Ethiopia: Ethnic Federalism and Its Discontents” (29 pages without appendix, and an astonishing 315 scholarly and other original source references for such a short report), the report “applauds” the dictator’s constitution for its “commitment to liberal democracy and respect for political freedoms and human rights.” It credits the dictatorship for “stimulating economic growth and expanding public services”. The study even approvingly notes the “proliferation of political parties” under the dictatorship’s watch.



The report is not a whitewash. It also points out failures. The most glaring failure is the radical political “restructuring” engendered by “ethnic federalism” to “redefine citizenship, politics and identity on ethnic grounds.” The study suggests that the “intent [of “ethnic federalism”] was to create a more prosperous, just and representative state for all its people.” However, the result has been the development of “an asymmetrical federation that combines populous regional states like Oromiya and Amhara in the central highlands with sparsely populated and underdeveloped ones like Gambella and Somali.” Moreover, “ethnic federalism” has created “weak regional states”, “empowered some groups” and failed to resolve the “national question”. Aggravating the underlying situation has been the dictatorship’s failure to promote “dialogue and reconciliation” among groups in Ethiopian society, further fueling “growing discontent with the EPRDF’s ethnically defined state and rigid grip on power and fears of continued inter-ethnic conflict.”



The ICG report implicitly criticizes the opposition as well. It notes that they are “divided and disorganized” and unable to publicly show that they could overcome “EPDRF’s” claim that they are not “qualified to take power via the ballot box.” As a result, the 2010 elections “most probably will be much more contentious, as numerous opposition parties are preparing to challenge the EPRDF, which is likely to continue to use its political machine to retain its position.” The study also addresses the role of the international community, which it claims “has ignored or downplayed all these problems.” The donor community is specifically criticized for lacking objective and balanced perspective as they “appear to consider food security more important than democracy in Ethiopia, but they neglect the increased ethnic awareness and tensions created by the regionalisation policy and their potentially explosive consequences.” The report does not even spare the defunct Derg regime, which historically was responsible for “repression, failed economic policy and forced resettlement and ‘villagisation’.”



Of course, none of the foregoing is known to those who are willfully ignorant of the report, but have chosen to preoccupy their minds with hubris, hypocrisy, arrogance and contempt for the truth.



Opinion versus Facts



The dictator said, “They (ICG) are entitled to their opinion as we are entitled to ours.” That is true. But as the common saying goes, “Everyone is entitled to his own opinions, but not his own facts.” The facts on the dictatorship and “ethnic federalism” are infamous and incontrovertible. It is not a matter of opinion, but hard fact, that after the 2005 elections the dictator unleashed security forces under his personal control to undertake a massive “crackdown on the opposition [that] demonstrated the extent to which the regime is willing to ignore popular protest and foreign criticism to hold on to power.” It is a proven fact by the dictator’s own Inquiry Commission, not opinion, that his “security forces killed almost 200 civilians (the real number is many times that) and arrested an estimated 30,000 opposition supporters”. It is a plain fact that “there is growing discontent with the EPRDF’s ethnically defined state and rigid grip on power and fears of continued inter-ethnic conflict.” It is an undeniable fact that the dictatorship has caused “continuous polarisation of national politics that has sharpened tensions between and within parties and ethnic groups since the mid-1990s. The EPRDF’s ethnic federalism has not dampened conflict, but rather increased competition among groups that vie over land and natural resources, as well as administrative boundaries and government budgets.” It is a fact just as sure as the sun will rise tomorrow that “Without genuine multi-party democracy, the tensions and pressures in Ethiopia’s polities will only grow, greatly increasing the possibility of a violent eruption that would destabilise the country and region.”



It is true the dictator is entitled to his own opinion, but not his own facts!



The Art of Distraction



What could possibly be “contemptible” about the ICG report? The obvious way to counter a report by a respected international think-tank is by presenting countervailing evidence that undermines confidence in the report’s findings and conclusions. But the dictator opts for something proverbially attributed to the legal profession: “When the law is against you, argue the facts. When the facts are against you, argue the law. When both are against you, pound the table and attack and abuse the plaintiff.” In this case, when you can’t handle the facts and the truth, throw a fit, make a scene, vilify the ICG, demonize the individual authors, demean the report with cheap shots and declare moral victory with irrational outbursts.



But why throw a temper tantrum?



The fact of the matter is that “ethnic federalism” is indefensible in theory or practice. The ICG report hit a raw nerve by exposing the fundamental flaws in the dictatorship’s phony “ethnic federalism” ideology. The report makes it crystal clear that the scheme of “ethnic federalism” is unlikely to keep the nine ethnic-based states in orbit around the dictatorship much longer. The ICG’s reasonable fear is that over time irrepressible centripetal political contradictions deep within Ethiopian society could potentially trigger an implosion of the Ethiopian nation. This argument is logical, factually-supported and convincing. As we have previously suggested, “ethnic federalism” is a glorified nomenclature for apartheid-style Bantustans . By unloading verbal abuse and sarcasm on the ICG, the dictator is trying to divert attention from the central finding of the report: Ethnic federalism is highly likely to lead to the disintegration of the Ethiopian nation. That is what the dictator’s sound and fury is all about!



What Makes for a Strong Federalism?



We believe the ICG report does not go far enough in explicitly suggesting a way out of the “ethnic federalism” morass. It seems implicit in the report that if “ethnic federalism” is dissolved as a result of forceful action by the “states”, the country’s national disintegration could be accelerated. If the dictatorship fails to reform or modify it significantly, ethnic tensions will continue to escalate resulting in an inevitable upheaval. If the dictatorship escalates its use of force to keep itself in power, it could pave the way for the ultimate and inevitable collapse of the country into civil strife. All of these scenarios place the Ethiopian people on the horns of a dilemma.



We believe there are important elements from the Ghanaian Constitution that could be incorporated to produce a strong and functioning federal system in Ethiopia. As we have argued before , Ghana’s 1992 Constitution provides a powerful antidote to the poison of ethnic and tribal politics: “Every political party shall have a national character, and membership shall not be based on ethnic, religious, regional or other sectional divisions.” Membership in a political party is open to “every citizen of Ghana of voting age” and every citizen has the right to “disseminate information on political ideas, social and economic programmes of a national character.” Ghanaian citizens’ political and civic life is protected by the rule of law and an independent judiciary. Citizens freely express their opinions without fear of government retaliation; and the media vociferously criticizes government policies and officials without censorship. Ghana has a strong judiciary with extraordinary constitutional powers to the point of making the failure to obey or carry out the terms of a Supreme Court order a “high crime”. Ghana’s independent electoral commission is responsible for voter registration, demarcation of electoral boundaries, conduct and oversight of all public elections and referenda and electoral education. The Commission’s decisions are respected by all political parties. These are the essential elements missing from the bogus theory of “ethnic federalism” foisted upon the people of Ethiopia.



Ob la di, Ob la da…



It is truly pathetic that after nearly twenty years in power the best the dictators can offer the suffering Ethiopian people is an empty plate and a bellyful of contempt, acrimony and anger. Well, ob la di, ob la da, life goes on forever! So will the Ethiopian Nation, united and strong under the rule of law and the Grace of the Almighty. If South Africa can be delivered from the plague of the Bantustans, have no doubts whatsoever that Ethiopia will also be delivered from the plague of the Kililistans!



The writer, Alemayehu G. Mariam, is a professor of political science at California State University, San Bernardino, and an attorney based in Los Angeles. For comments, he can be reached at almariam@gmail.com

Ethiopia’s SNNP Pardons over 3,000 Prisoners (more vote for woyane?)

www.nazrett.com Home of Ethiopian News and Blog Breaking News

September 27, 2009 (ADDIS ABABA) — Ethiopia’s Southern Nations and Nationalists and Peoples state (SNNP) on Sunday releases 3,535 prisoners from various detention centers of the region, in connection with ’Meskel’, a religious holiday.




In a statement, SNNP regional president, Shiferaw Shugute said that the prisoners were set free based on conditions set on Federal and regional constitution.



Prison term reduction is also granted to 13 prisoners.



The prisoners were pardoned based on the deep regret they showed, the good behavior they displayed while in prison and also considering their length of stay and old ages. They have all served at least half of their prison terms. But the amnesty grant does not include to those who are jailed on rape, murder or other serious crimes.



Shiferaw called on the freed prisoners to learn from past mistakes and to take part actively in the economic and developmental endeavors of the country and be exemplary citizens



Two weeks ago, Ethiopia’s regional states of Oromiya and Amhara, in a similar move, freed 9,612 prisoners, including 391 women on amnesty in connection with the New Year.



Ethiopians are today celebrating Meskel, the finding of the true cross on which Jesus Christ was crucified.



Late Yesterday, tens of thousands of Ethiopians including government officials, ambassadors and diplomatic corps gather at the capital’s Maskal Square to celebrate, Demera, eve of the founding of the true cross.



A grand bonfire was lit by the Patriarch of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, Abune Paulos.



Meskel, in the Ethiopian Orthodox church, is an annual religious holiday commemorating the discovery of the True Cross by Queen Eleni (Saint Helena) in the fourth century. Meskel occurs on 17 Meskerem in the Ethiopian calendar (27 September, Gregorian calendar, or 28 September in leap years). "Meskel", means cross.



The Meskel celebration includes the burning of a large bonfire, or Demera, based on the belief that Queen Eleni had a revelation in a dream. She was told that she shall make a bonfire and that the smoke would show her where the true cross was buried.



Demera-procession takes place in the early evening the day before Meskel or on the day itself, according to local traditions. The firewood is decorated with daisies prior to the celebration. Afterwards, charcoal from the remains of the fire is collected and used by the faithful to mark their foreheads with the shape of a cross.

Ethiopia: Country Can Exploit Opportunity in Unesco Now - Ambassador

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Addis Ababa — Ethiopia could exploit the potential opportunities presented in the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), in the wake of the recently elected Bulgarian Director General, Irina Bokova, the Bulgarian Ambassador in Addis Ababa said. The familiarity of the new Director General with Africa's development needs and challenges and her positive position toward the Continent makes her an asset that could be put to use through the Embassy here, he said.




In an exclusive interview with The Daily Monitor, the Bulgarian Ambassador to Ethiopia, Ambassador Svetlozar Panov, said Ethiopia occupies an important place for the Bulgarian nation. However, relations between the two countries is not as it used to be in the past, he said and went on to add, efforts are being made to change that and that his government would be happy to respond positively to any gesture on the part of the Ethiopian government to strengthen mutual relations further.



The Ambassador considers the coming into office of a Bulgarian Director General who knows a lot about the developing world and has travelled to most African countries as a good opportunity to buttress relations between Ethiopia and Bulgaria and particularly for the former to exploit opportunities being presented by the coming into office of such an individual.



Ambassador Panov says the charter of UNESCO indicates the organization's biggest interest is to support developing nations and yet UNESCO has had problems when it comes to providing the appropriate help to these countries in various sectors of its mandate.



On top of that the role of the Director General of UNESCO is important because it handles education. And the issue of education is of strategic importance in the life of nations. Through the Bulgarian Embassy in Addis, Ethiopia could exploit to the maximum such an opportunity and enjoy its benefits, the Ambassador underscores.



The Ambassador says the incoming Bulgarian Director-General, whom he claims to know personally and as a colleague, knows a lot about Africa and has travelled to its most parts. And this in turn would enable her to define the Continent's priorities as well as what to do and how to do it in her term of office in the coming years.


The election of a Bulgarian into the Director General office is the first for Bulgaria and at the same time she is the first lady for UNESCO after 65 years of the organization's existence.



Ambassador Panov said Ethiopia is one of the important countries in Africa. That is why Bulgaria pays a lot of attention to the relations between the two nations. In the past their relations used to be more active and fruitful. But that ended with the fall of socialism.



There are efforts to strengthen ties between the two countries in various sectors and yet there are areas that need more efforts to facilitate that, the Ambassador underlined. The problem of visa Bulgarians face when coming to Ethiopia is a case in point, according to the Ambassador. Cooperation potential is more than being exploited currently, he added.

Ethiopia: Nationwide housing project puts economy in danger

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Ethiopian Ministry of Works and Urban Development (MoWUD)) this year suspended a number of affordable housing projects across the country with the exception of the capital city, Addis Ababa. Top government officials have said the exercise is to lessen the government’s expenditure and save the economy from further decline.


Fearing the nationwide housing project’s inflationary impacts due to its huge associated expenditure, the government has moved to suspend new constructions for this fiscal year. “We are currently working on unfinished projects, (but we are) suspending all new constructions”, said a source, a top government official, from the MoWUD, suggesting the government’s involvement in the decision to suspend the project.



According to him, the escalating prices of construction materials led to the reversal of budgeted targets as the housing project’s expenditure skyrocketed. To achieve the set targets, the government would be forced to increase its expenditure which could in turn have a macro economic impact. Commenting on the appropriateness of the suspension, he confirmed that the housing project fovoured the hikes in prices of construction material.



The ambitious low cost housing plan, first introduced in 2004 during former Addis Ababa Mayor Arkebe Equbay’s term in office, sought to construct 50,000 houses on yearly basis in the capital. The project was first halted due to the outcome of the 2005 election that saw Arkebe voted out of office as mayor. The ruling party, however, appointed him to his current position as state minister of MoWUD after which he obtained government permission to initiate the low cost housing programme nationwide.



In 2005/06, the Federal Government launched its Integrated Houses Development Program (IHDP) under the direct supervision of Arkebe with the aim of constructing 400,000 houses in 70 towns. Until the last Ethiopian fiscal year, a total 24 billion birr budget directed to the project had seen 36 towns in the country benefit from some 61,000 affordable houses.



Addis Ababa, has been excluded from the suspension of the nationwide housing project as neither the federal government nor the Addis Ababa City Administration are directly involved in the financing of the city’s housing project, the official said.



In the meantime, the city’s administration has recently denied budget to its Housing Development Office while recommending the office to transfer finished houses and reinvest the funds obtained from the transfer. The programme is currently expecting a 1.2 billion birr loan from the Commercial Bank of Ethiopia (CBE), one of the investors of the housing project.

US Supported Ethiopian Government Levels Threats Against Somalian Resistance Forces

Ethiopian troops said to be in a Somalia town. The Ethiopian troops withdrew in January 2009 after occupying the country at the aegis of the United States. Originally uploaded by Pan-African News Wire File PhotosExtremists hijacking Somalia, Ethiopia warns September 26, 2009 Peter James Spielmann ASSOCIATED PRESS Somalia is being hijacked by Al-Qaeda-linked terrorists who are better organized and more highly motivated than the ineffectual government in Mogadishu, and Sudan could be the next nation to fall under their influence, Ethiopia warned Saturday. "It is time that we abandon the fiction that this is a war just among Somalis. It is not," Ethiopian Foreign Minister Ato Seyoum Mesfin said in a pessimistic speech before the General Assembly. "Somalia is being hijacked by foreign fighters who have no inhibition in proclaiming that their agenda has nothing to do with Somalia. Theirs is an ambition that goes well beyond Somalia, and they say it out loud and clear," said Mesfin. "Today in Somalia, there is greater co-ordination and co-operation among those who assist the extremists than among those who profess support for the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia," Mesfin said. Last week, two stolen UN vehicles packed with explosives blew up at an African Union peacekeeping base in Somalia, killing 21 people, including 17 Burundian and Ugandan peacekeepers. Markings on the cars meant they were not subject to the usual security checks. Al-Shabab, a local Islamic militia with foreign fighters in its ranks, said the Sept. 17 bombing was in retaliation for a U.S. commando raid on Sept. 14 that killed Al Qaeda operative Saleh Ali Saleh Nabhan in southern Somalia. It has released a video pledging allegiance to Al Qaeda and showing foreign trainers moving among its fighters. "As the latest horrific suicide attack ... has shown, those destroying Somalia are being emboldened, and their supporters rewarded," Mesfin said. On the other hand, "The international community is being stingy even with symbolic steps to show resolve against extremists and spoilers in Somalia," he said. "It is critical that the international community wakes up before the hijacking of Somalia by extremism is fully consummated," Mesfin said, lamenting that "it appears, the Council does not consider Somalia is a priority." "What is missing is the political will. No one who knows Somalia well believes that Al-Shabab is popular in Somalia. Whatever gains they have made is a function of their brutality and the support they have from without." Mesfin warned Sudan could be the next domino. "The Horn of Africa cannot afford the consequence of failure in the Sudan peace process. We are very close to both parties in the Sudan, an asset which we want to use wisely," Mesfin said. 11:25, September 27, 2009 Somali PM optimistic about dialogue with Islamist rebels By Abdurrahman Warsameh Somali Prime Minister Omar Abdurashid Ali Sharmarke, on Saturday said the Somali government is in dialogue with "key" individuals in the opposition and he expected positive results from the talks. The Somali government is fighting deadly insurgency with Islamist rebels since it returned to the capital early this year following a UN-sponsored talks in Djibouti late 2008 which culminated with the election of the current president and the formation of the government of national unity led by Sharmarke. The prime minister, who was speaking in an exclusive interview with Xinhua, said there were both "direct and indirect" dialogues going on between the government and the opposition. "We will continue to engage the opposition. We try to discuss directly or indirectly and I think there have been a lot of progress in our talk. I hope the results may be seen later on but we continue to have a meaningful dialogue," said the prime minister. Sharmarke acknowledged that there are difficulties in the talks with the opposition groups who are basically two main Islamist factions of Al-Shabaab and the Hezbul Islam. The prime minister said there will always be going to be "elements" within the opposition that as he put it "will not agree to anything", but he stated that as a government it was their responsibility to reach out to those who were "still out of the (peace) process of Djibouti". The Somali prime minister was hopeful that the opposition groups would come to terms with the fact that the only way out was to join hands and move forward. The official also talked about the current security situation, African Union peacekeeping Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), the bilateral relations between China and Somalia, and the unfulfilled pledged funds from the international community. Sharmarke, whose beleaguered government is confined to parts of Mogadishu and fights off daily attacks from insurgent groups poised to topple it, said his government was doing all it could to improve security in Mogadishu. He acknowledged that the latest deadly twin suicide car bombings against AMISOM headquarters in Mogadishu was a "setback" and nothing could be done to prevent such attacks. "I think you can hardly prevent such suicide bombings. I think you can only minimize the effects of such things. When one decides to blow himself up, I think very little can be done," the prime minister told Xinhua. The suicide attacks which killed nearly 21 people, mostly peacekeepers, and wounded as many as 40 others, was claimed by Al-Shabaab Islamist rebels who along with the Hezbul Islam faction, control much of southern and central Somalia. Meanwhile, the Somali prime minister praised what he called "the long and historic ties" between the Somali and Chinese peoples and governments and urged the further strengthening of the ties between the two nations. He sent congratulation to the government and people of China as they celebrate the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. "I would urge people and government of China to continue to do their own progress to continue to grow their economy. I think growth in China is a growth for the entire world," he told Xinhua. He, however, described as unfortunate the international community's inability to deliver its pledged funds to support the Somali government and AU peacekeeping forces. The official hoped that the 8,000-strong African Union peacekeeping forces, of which nearly 5,000 are currently on the ground in Mogadishu, would soon be fully deployed and that their mandate, which is now limited, would be strengthened to enable them to fight Islamist rebels. Source: Xinhua Uganda hosts talks on AU Somalia force AFP Defence ministers from Uganda, Burundi and Somalia met last Friday in Kampala over the African Union peacekeeping mission in Somalia after last week’s suicide attack on the force, an official said. The ministers alongside military chiefs of staff from the three countries began discussions last Thursday at an undisclosed location and continued last Friday. “Somalia security is top on the agenda of this meeting,” Ugandan army spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Felix Kulayigye said late last Thursday. Last Thursday, radical Somali Islamist rebels carried out deadly twin suicide attacks on the AU force headquarters in Mogadishu, killing 21 people including 17 peacekeepers as well as the force's deputy comander. Since that attack the insurgents have called for fresh attacks against the African peacekeeping force, which comes under fire almost on a daily basis on the streets of the Somali capital. Burundi and Uganda are the only countries that contribute troops to Amisom. The force currently counts 5 000 men, well short of the 8 000 promised when the force was deployed in March 2007. Bujumbura and Kampala, as well as the AU, are asking for the force's mandate to be beefed up. Meanwhile One of several suicide bombers who killed 21 people, including 17 African Union peacekeepers, at a base in the Somali capital Mogadishu on September 17 was American, a Somali-language website has claimed. Militants from Islamist insurgent group alShabaab which the US says has close links with alQaeda entered the base in vehicles stolen from the United Nations and detonated explosive charges as a meeting between Somali officials and peacekeepers was taking place. Somali-language website Dayniile.com, without revealing its sources, reported that one of the bombers was Omar Mohamed Mahmoud, a Somali-American who lived in the United States until 2007. The site is run by members of the Mursade a subclan of the large Hawiye clan which has provided a significant number of fighters to alShabaab. Gaffel Nkolokosa, a Nairobi-based spokesperson for the AU peacekeeping mission in Somalia (Amisom), said investigations, including DNA analysis of remains, were ongoing and that the identity of the bombers had not yet been confirmed. The US Embassy in Nairobi declined to comment. No one from al Shabaab was immediately contactable. Should the report prove to be true, it will be the second verified case of an American citizen turning suicide bomber in Somalia. Shirwa Ahmed became the first known naturalised US citizen to become a suicide bomber when he blew himself up in the selfdeclared autonomous Somali region of Puntland last October, killing dozens. FBI director Robert Mueller said that Ahmed was radicalized in the US state of Minnesota, which has a sizable Somali community. The FBI believes that over a dozen Somali-American youths have left Minneapolis to join alShabaab over the last two years. Jamal Bana, 20, and Burhan Hassan, 17, both former residents of Minneapolis, were shot dead while fighting for alShabaab. www.nazrett.com Home of Ethiopian News and Blog Breaking News

www.nazrett.com Home of Ethiopian News and Blog Breaking News

Ethiopian Rights Group Presses Charges Over Military Ties

Globalia Mazagine September 26, 2009 Berlin: Ethiopian human rights proponents pressed charges against the German government Ethiopian human rights proponents pressed charges against the German government yesterday, because of Berlin's long term support of the regime in Addis Ababa, accused for years of serious violations of human rights. There are sufficient grounds for a "reasonable suspicion" that the German government has committed "complicity in violations of the Völkerstrafgesetzbuch (VStGB - German international criminal code)" declared the Ethiopian Human Rights Committee - Germany and calls on the Office of the Federal Prosecutor in Karlsruhe to initiate the relevant investigations. In fact, over the past few years, Berlin has even intensified its cooperation with Ethiopia, even though government advisors and organizations engaged in development programs have pointed to the Ethiopian regime's extreme repressive character. German complicity even extends to military support for Ethiopia, which is waging a proxy war in Somalia in support of western interests. Behind this complicity is Ethiopia's high strategic significance for Berlin's foreign policy - expounded upon in detail a few years ago by Germany's ambassador to Addis Ababa. Judicial Inquiry Yesterday, the Ethiopian Human Rights Committee - Germany declared that it had pressed charges against German Chancellor, Angela Merkel and Foreign Minister, Frank-Walter Steinmeier with the Office of the Federal Prosecutor in Karlsruhe. There are sufficient grounds for a "reasonable suspicion" that the German government has committed "complicity in violations of the Völkerstrafgesetzbuch (VStGB - German international criminal code) in connection with its support for the Ethiopian regime" declared the human rights committee. According to the committee "voluminous human rights reports on the Ethiopian government's or the Ethiopian security forces' massive violations of human rights and international law" are available and the German government cannot deny its awareness of these reports. Yet Berlin supports "the Ethiopian regime at the political, technical as well as the police/military levels," allowing therefore "the initiation of a penal judiciary investigation." Special Report In fact, for years Germany has been one of the Ethiopian regime's closest collaborators. In 2006 the German ambassador to Addis Ababa, Claas Dieter Knoop explained why. In a "special report" to the CSU affiliated Hans Seidel Foundation, Knoop wrote that Ethiopia is destined to play a special role in German foreign policy for several reasons. "In light of preliminary, promising discoveries," the country has a considerable potential in "strategically important raw materials (for example gas, oil and minerals)." In addition, because the source of the "Blue Nile," furnishing four-fifths of the Nile water volume, is on Ethiopian territory, the country plays a "strategic role" in the precarious North African water supply. But above all, because the security of maritime routes along the East African coastline is "particularly of German interest," transit from the Indian Ocean to the Red Sea is "of eminent importance" to the export-oriented German economy. Even though Ethiopia is not a coastal nation, it is still considered a regional power in East Africa because of its military weight and, through its intervention in Somalia, it has proven that it is prepared to defend western interests along the East African coastline. Advisor At the beginning of 2005, the German government significantly intensified its cooperation with Ethiopia along the lines of Knoop's appraisal. Government negotiations between Berlin and Addis Ababa led at the time to new German support agreements with this East African nation. Germany would send up to 500 "specialists" for "key positions in the Ethiopian industry and administration" declared the GTZ "development" agency at the time. Among these "key positions", one was for an "advisor" to the Ethiopian speaker of parliament, who, according to the announcement profile, in another German "development" agency, was expected to establish "instruments for sharing experiences internationally (contacts to parliamentarians of other federal states)." In 2005, German-Ethiopian cooperation was significantly expanded. The Ethiopian President, Meles Zenawi met with his German counterpart, Horst Koehler, in spite of massive international protests. .... =========================== www.nazrett.com Home of Ethiopian News and Blog Breaking News

Protesters to leaders: Stay true to Africa (Meles Zenawi)

www.nazrett.com Home of Ethiopian News and Blog Breaking News The lobby on behalf of Africans living in extreme poverty continued in full force yesterday as leaders of the G-20 nations arrived in town. On the streets, African immigrants and other protesters decried the G-20 member nations, which they said are to blame for the capitalist structures that continue to prop up brutal dictators on the continent. And at the August Wilson Center for African American Culture, which was used as the press center for various groups lobbying the G-20 leaders, international advocates challenged the efficacy of a summit that would fail to address the question of global poverty. The success and humanity of the G-20 Summit will ultimately be measured by the livelihood and fate of the poorest, particularly in Africa, said Privilege Hang'andu, a Zambian official of the group Jubilee USA. "Africa, as indebted as it is, cannot afford more loans," Mr. Hang'andu said, as he called on summit participants to commit to canceling untold amounts of "odious" African debt. An alliance of 75 religious denominations, development agencies and human rights organizations, Jubilee USA joined the list of international social justice organizations pushing the G-20 to address issues of poverty and debt cancellation in Africa. To that end, Jubilee, like advocacy groups such as the ONE Campaign, is calling on the G-20 to recommit itself to African development. In London, G-20 leaders agreed to raise more than $1 trillion in resources for development in poor countries. Some $50 billion of that was earmarked for Africa. In addition, world leaders led by President Obama at the July G-8 meeting in Italy agreed to raise $20 billion toward food security and increasing farming capacity in Africa. But as a group of protesters lining Liberty Avenue outside the August Wilson Center chanted about the need to end genocide in Africa, Neil Watkins, director of Jubilee USA, said the G-20 needs to clarify its prior commitments. "They are not delivering on their promises and a lot is being left unsaid," said Mr. Watkins, adding that the majority of donors that pledged to raise part of the $50 billion for Africa have not yet delivered on their promise. What's more, the $20 billion promised for food security, which was scheduled to be distributed over a three-year period, is yet to be fully fleshed out. "We still don't know if that will be new money or existing money that will be repackaged," Mr. Watkins said. But for Mekdese Kassa, who was part of a group of about 30 people protesting against the government of Ethiopia, the money is part of the problem. Referring to American aid to Ethiopia, Mr. Kassa said: "We are saying that U.S. money is being used to kill women and children as a form of genocide, and we want the G-20 to listen. We are focusing on human rights. Human rights violations in Ethiopia are worse than any country, you name it." Mr. Kassa, who manages a cancer center in Baltimore, was part of a sizeable contingency of Ethiopians who came to Pittsburgh by bus from Washington, D.C., Maryland, Ohio, New York City and Boston. They protested the regime of Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, whom they described as a dictator who imprisons his opposition consisting of people like Birtukan Mideksa -- a 35-year-old former judge and mother of a 4-year-old sentenced to life in prison by the government. Dressed in the green, yellow and red colors of the Ethiopian flag, they called on U.S. taxpayers and the governments of G-20 countries to halt financial backing to Ethiopia, Sudan and Zimbabwe for war crimes and suppression of democracy. Staff writers Gabrielle Banks and Mark Roth contributed to this report. Karamagi Rujumba can be reached at krujumba@post-gazette.com or 412-263-1719. Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09268/1000730-482.stm#ixzz0S9AupKUY

Germany Donates Heavy Waste-Disposal Trucks, Mine Detectors to Ethiopia

www.nazrett.com Home of Ethiopian News and Blog Breaking News Addis Ababa — German Development Bank (KfW) on Thursday handed over seven heavy trucks for urban waste-disposal worth 600 thousand EUR to the City Administrations of Dire Dawa, Gonder, Kombolcha and Awassa. In a related story the Germany embassy here in Addis Ababa announced that the German government has donated 70 mine/metal detectors worth EUR over 150 thousand for the humanitarian demining operations in the Afar, Somali, and Tigray regionsof the country. The trucks were said would enable the four cities to enhance their urban waste management system. "Waste management is an important area of work, especially in growing cities. It leads to dramatic improvement of living condition, not mentioned hygienically issues. Especially in this sector infrastructure has to be accompanied by smart systems of collection, aggregation and side management to be sustainable," said Dr. Claas Dieter Knoop, German Ambassador to Ethiopia, after handing over the keys of the seven heavy trucks to Abuye Aniley, Director General of Urban Development Capacity Building Office at the AMCE/ IVECO compound yesterday. According to the ambassador, significant parts of bilateral cooperation between Ethio-Germany deal with physical infrastructure and machinery. At least as significant is the Institutional Capacity Building in order to make development projects sustainable, he said adding that the trucks would signify one practical impact of Ethio-German Development Cooperation "as it arrives at kebele's level, virtually at the citizen's doorstep." The German embassy said in a statement the mine detectors donation was made in addition to the 117 mine detectors donated to the Ethiopian Mine Action Office (EMAO) last year in March and August in support of the ongoing mine action program implemented by EMAO through the United Nations Development Programme's support to Ethiopia. The project started in 2007 and will continue through 2011. During the handing over occasion, the Ambassador affirmed the German government's support for demining in Ethiopia will continue. From January 2007 to June 2009, 20.5 km2 of previously land mine-infested lands were successfully demined by EMAO, representing 94 percent of the total clearance target of 21.7 km2. Almost all safe land released by EMAO has been utilized by over 100 thousand local residents for farming and herding. With regard to cooperation on the cities-level, Germany and Ethiopia have a history of strong cooperation. Only in the last year's government to government negotiations, it was concluded to continue the well established cooperation in the focal area of 'Development of Federalism, Decentralization and Good Local Governance', according to the ambassador. Sustainable Development Since 2004 Urban Development Fund (UDF) funded by (KfW) Development Bank supports eleven cities including: Adigrat, Mekelle, Gondar, Kombolcha, Banir Dar, Jimma, Hawassa, Dilla, Bishoftu, Adama and Dire Dawa, in Ethiopian to improve their urban infrastructure. By doing this, these cities are able to better serve their citizens. The Ministry of Works and Urban Development, particularly Urban Development Capacity Building Office (UDCBO) together with the UDF supports the cities in their Endeavour to implement big infrastructure projects. The cities are responsible for the whole project cycle. They contribute 20 percent of the project costs, whereas 80 percent are covered by KfW Development Bank.

Melbourne man 'tortured' in Ethiopia

www.nazrett.com Home of Ethiopian News and Blog Breaking News A GOODWILL mission has turned into a nightmare for a Melbourne man who has been imprisoned and tortured in Ethiopia, according to his family. Sadiq Ahmed, 46, a food inspector from Heidelberg who is an Australian citizen, has been detained since May, his brother Abdalla said yesterday. The father of four has been in Ethiopia for the past two years, helping to build a hospital with $100,000 in funds raised by Abdalla in Australia. Abdalla and his sister Malyun yesterday made an impassioned plea for the Australian Government to try to secure his release. Speaking in Melbourne yesterday, Abdalla said his brother was taken off a bus along with 10 other people by government-backed militia in the Somali province where the hospital is being built. Somali-born Abdalla, 53, featured in The Age in June last year about how he had given up his job and was driving taxis so he could concentrate on raising money for the hospital in Raaso, a destitute town of 80,000 in the Ethiopian Somali province where his father came from. Abdalla was in Ethiopia's capital at the time of his brother's arrest and was tipped off that the militia were looking for him. He contacted the Canadian consul - Australia has no consul in Ethiopia - who advised he go into hiding and to contact him to accompany him when he was ready to go to the airport, which he did a week later. Abdalla, president of the Raaso project and a board member of Banyule Community Health, said his brother was imprisoned in the regional capital Jijiga and accused of ''creating unrest''. But Abdalla insisted that ''Sadiq spent two years working in the field and never interfered in any politics''. He believed tribal rivalry may be behind the arrest, with sensitivities touched off by the project's focus on neglect in Raaso, where ''every morning there is a row of babies waiting to be buried because the women can't make it to a hospital''. The family say Mr Ahmed has been shackled, beaten with rifle butts and sentenced to seven years' jail without trial. Mr Ahmed's wife Bishar, who is pregnant, managed to visit him recently and saw he was injured. Malyun, a social worker, is angry that the only ''help'' that the Department of Foreign Affairs has been providing is the passing of information that they already know, with no consular visit made to her brother. In frustration, they wrote three weeks ago to Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and Foreign Minister Stephen Smith. ''I am sure if Australia's prime minister was to phone Ethiopia's prime minister, it would take one call for my brother to be released,'' Abdalla said. They have not received a reply.

UK: Ethiopian ‘Assurances’ No Guarantee Against Torture

www.nazrett.com Home of Ethiopian News and Blog Breaking News Related Materials: Letter to British Foreign Secretary Miliband on Diplomatic Assurances with Ethiopia Not the Way Forward "Why Am I Still Here?" Expecting an Ethiopian government-sponsored commission to monitor torture cases is farcical, especially when Ethiopia is fast becoming one of the most inhospitable places in the world for independent human rights investigation. Tom Porteous, London director at Human Rights Watch(London) - The UK government should not rely on unreliable "diplomatic assurances" against torture to deport national security suspects to Ethiopia, Human Rights Watch said today in a letter to the UK government. In December 2008, the United Kingdom and Ethiopia signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU), similar to those the UK has signed with Jordan, Lebanon and Libya. Under these MoUs, the receiving governments provide "diplomatic assurances" that they will not mistreat persons whom the other country transfers to their territory. Under the agreement, Ethiopia will obtain custody of its citizens now in detention in the UK, while the UK will be able to deport to their home country Ethiopians it considers security threats. "The UK-Ethiopia agreement is intended to get around the absolute ban on returning people to countries where they are at risk of torture," said Tom Porteous, London director at Human Rights Watch. "Ethiopia has a grim record of torture, particularly where suspects are perceived as security threats, and empty promises from Addis will not remove that risk." Human Rights Watch and other organizations have documented the use of torture by Ethiopian police and military officials in both official and secret detention facilities across Ethiopia. Concerns about torture, ill-treatment, and lack of due process are often gravest when individuals are detained on suspicion of affiliation with armed opposition, insurgent, or terrorist activity. In some cases suspects are tortured during interrogations, while in other cases they are tortured as punishment. Methods of torture include: repeated and severe kicking and beating of a naked suspect with sticks, electric cables, rifle butts, iron bars or other instruments, sometimes at gunpoint; tying an individual's hands and feet, then suspending the person upside down and administering a beating; tying bottles of water to a man's testicles; and forcing a detainee to run or crawl barefoot over sharp gravel for several hours at a time. Human Rights Watch has also documented cases of rape of women and girls detained in military barracks in the country's eastern Somali region. "Ethiopia's record of torture of security suspects is all too clear," said Porteous. "The agreement is itself a tacit admission that torture continues to be a major problem in Ethiopia." The agreements Britain has reached with Ethiopia and other states represent an effort to circumvent the strict non-refoulement (no return) obligations under the UN Convention against Torture and the European Convention on Human Rights. Both treaties absolutely prohibit returning people to places where they face a substantial risk of torture. The bodies that enforce compliance with the two treaties, the Committee Against Torture and the European Court of Human Rights, have both repeatedly made clear that no exceptions are permitted to the ban on returns to torture, even where the suspect is alleged to pose a threat to national security. The MoUs contain a measure that purports to act as a safeguard against abuse: establishment of a body, nominated jointly by the two signatory governments, which can periodically visit and privately interview anyone the receiving state takes into custody, and then report on those visits to the sending state. In reality, such post-return monitoring will not protect returnees from torture. Its key deficiency is the lack of confidentiality. Where monitors have universal access to all detainees in a facility and are able to speak with detainees in private, a single detainee can report torture without fear of being identified by the authorities. The International Committee of the Red Cross makes universal access a condition of its monitoring for precisely that reason. But under the British MoUs, with only one detainee or a small group being monitored, such confidentiality cannot be provided. If abuse is reported, the prison or detention facility authorities will know directly where the allegations of ill-treatment came from. Experience has shown that detainees are reluctant to report abuse in those circumstances for fear of reprisals against them or their families. Moreover, the "independent" monitoring body identified to monitor returns under the UK's agreement with Ethiopia is the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission, a government-sponsored organization whose members are appointed by the ruling party-dominated Ethiopian parliament. "Expecting an Ethiopian government-sponsored commission to monitor torture cases is farcical, especially when Ethiopia is fast becoming one of the most inhospitable places in the world for independent human rights investigation," said Porteous. The European Court of Human Rights has ruled against efforts by the UK and other European governments to rely on assurances as grounds for returning national security suspects to countries with poor torture records, concluding that the use of assurances did not remove the risk faced by the suspects. The court is currently considering a case brought by a Jordanian terrorism suspect against the UK, challenging its efforts to deport him to Jordan under the MoU with that country, following a February ruling by Britain's Law Lords that the suspect could be returned. In April 2008, Britain's Court of Appeal rejected the return of two national security suspects to Libya under the 2005 MoU between London and Tripoli, concluding that they remained at risk of torture. The UK government did not appeal that ruling.

Q+A-What is Eritrea's role in Somalia?

www.nazrett.com Home of Ethiopian News and Blog Breaking News By Jeremy Clarke and Jack Kimball ASMARA, Sept 25 (Reuters) - Eritrea said on Friday the hunting of al Qaeda suspects in Somalia by U.S. and Ethiopian forces had crippled peace efforts in the Horn of African nation. [ID:nLP496476] Washington and the United Nations accuse the Red Sea state of sending arms and other support to Somali insurgents battling the country's U.N.-backed government -- something Asmara denies. Here are some questions and answers about Eritrea's role in Somalia: WHAT ARE THE ACCUSATIONS AGAINST ERITREA? * The U.N. arms monitoring body says Eritrea sends money and weapons by plane and boat as well as providing training and logistical support to insurgent groups in Somalia. The body -- set up to watch violations of a 1992 arms embargo -- says Asmara is acting as a middleman for other countries helping the rebels. * Since September 2007, the United Nations and western powers have said Eritrea has focused its support on the Alliance for the Re-Liberation of Somalia (ARS), a group set up at a Somali opposition conference in the Red Sea state. The U.N. arms body, citing an ARS source, said Asmara was providing between $200,000 and $500,000 a month to support the rebels. * Eritrea is also accused of sending arms and providing other support to Ethiopian rebel groups and various guerrilla movements in western Sudan's restive Darfur region. Some Darfuri rebels and Ethiopian opposition groups have offices in the tranquil Eritrean capital Asmara, observers say. WHAT IS ERITREA'S RESPONSE? * Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki told Reuters in an interview in May that the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) was masterminding the accusations against Asmara. [ID:nLL935105] * Eritrea says it is "sick" of the allegations, which it says are completely unfounded. * Isaias' government says it supports a peaceful resolution to the Somali conflict and blames foreign powers for meddling in the region's internal affairs, citing Washington's weapons deliveries to Somalia's transitional government. * Asmara denies claims it supports Somali groups with terrorist ties, saying that it battled its own al Qaeda-linked rebels in the western part of the nation in the mid-1990s. SANCTIONS? * The African Union has called on the U.N. Security Council to sanction Eritrea for its role in the conflict. The 53-member body wants the United Nations to impose a sea blockade and a no-fly zone to stop people and weapons from reaching Somalia. * Sanctions may prove less than effective in Eritrea, which prides itself on its self-reliance. Decades of war against successive Ethiopian governments -- which were backed by the United States and then Russia -- have hardened the rebels-turned-leaders against outside aid. There are less than a handful of foreign relief groups working in the Red Sea state. * Asmara receives little development aid from foreign nations. Remittances from the diaspora in Europe, the United States, the Middle East and other Africa nations are the biggest source of foreign exchange for the nation. Revenue from mining, which is expected to begin in the next few years, will also boost Eritrea's balance of payments. (For Eritrea interview, double click on [ID:nLP496476]) (Editing by Daniel Wallis)

USAID signs $16mn loan agreement with Ethiopian private banks

www.nazrett.com Home of Ethiopian News and Blog Breaking News APA-Addis Ababa (Ethiopia) The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) on Friday signed a $16 million loan agreement with two Ethiopian private banks. According to the agreement, the loan accord signed with Awash International Bank and Oromia Cooperative Bank will help strengthen the economic development of Ethiopia by enabling microfinance institutions and savings and credit cooperatives to offer more loans. “The agreement, worth $16 million in potential loans, reduces collateral requirements to beneficiaries by 50 percent. The program will benefit micro and small enterprises, which play a major role in creating jobs and generating income for Ethiopians in food deficit regions,” said USAID. “The microfinance institutions that will benefit from this agreement not only have the knowledge of local cultures and markets, but also have the presence and capacity to reach some of the most remote communities,” Said Thomas H. Staal, USAID Mission Director to Ethiopia. USAID expects the guarantee scheme to create a sustainable partnership between microfinance institutions and private commercial banks, thus increasing agricultural productivity, expanding staple food supply, and helping expand small scale business related to the trade and cottage industries. USAID’s Development Credit Authority (DCA) loan guarantee program allows USAID to fund projects that are financially viable through loan guarantees in sectors that meet sustainable development objectives. The first DCA Agreement in Ethiopia started in 1999 with Abyssinia Bank, supporting small and medium enterprises engaged in different agricultural activities. In 2004, DCA added Awash and Abyssinia Banks availing $18 million for agro-processing, livestock marketing and commercial horticultural activities. In 2008, a new agreement was made for a $17.2 million guarantee with Abyssinia and NIB Banks for Diaspora and women entrepreneurs.

Ethiopians protest for jailed leader

www.nazrett.com Home of Ethiopian News and Blog Breaking News By Mark Roth About noon today, a group of protestors against the current Ethiopian government gathered at the Birtukan Mideksa corner of Liberty and Fifth avenues Downtown, seeking fair elections in that country and release of an imprisoned opposition leader, Birtukan Mideksa, a 35-year-old former judge and mother of a 4-year-old child who has been sentenced to life in prison by the government of prime minister Meles Zenawi. Mekdese Kassa, the spokesman for the group, who manages a cancer center in Baltimore, said that even though Mr. Zenawi was elected in 2000, many Ethiopians feel the results were manipulated, and even though new elections are scheduled next year, many opposition party leaders have refused to participate, believing the outcome will be rigged. They also said that Ms. Mideksa, after being pardoned by the government in 2007, was rearrested last year, allegedly for refusing to apologize for her crimes. Another rallying cry for the group was a 2003 incident in which hundreds of Anuak tribespeople were killed, allegedly with the help of government forces, during ethnic fighting. Referring to American aid to Ethiopia, Mr. Kassa said, “we are saying that U.S. money is being used to kill women and children as a form of genocide, and we want the G-20 to listen. We are focusing on human rights. Human rights violations in Ethiopia are worse than any country, you name it.” The group of about 30 people moved up Fifth Avenue toward the Convention Center area, intending to hook up- with other similar groups protesting the Zenawi regime. Source: THE BIG STORY G-20 Summit Ethiopian protest update

Three Million Children in Ethiopia Urgently Need Food amid Worst Crisis in Decades

www.nazrett.com Home of Ethiopian News and Blog Breaking News WESTPORT, Conn. (24 September 2009) Persistent drought compounded by higher than average food prices have created East Africa's worst food crisis in decades. Millions of children face the greatest risks, including severe malnutrition, disease, and death. But official food aid is falling well short of increased needs, particularly in Ethiopia. Across the Horn of Africa, an estimated 20 million people will need emergency humanitarian assistance through the end of this year. In comparison, last year – when drought, high food prices, and conflict were also at issue – only 14 million needed such assistance in Ethiopia, Eritrea, Kenya, Somalia, Sudan, and Uganda. "We've not seen a food crisis of this magnitude and severity in many years, and it is children who will suffer the most if the world fails to respond quickly," said Ned Olney, Save the Children's vice president for Global Humanitarian Response. "In Ethiopia, millions of subsistence farmers are dependent on weather patterns they cannot control," he said. "Now their children face not only hunger, but the increased vulnerability to deadly disease that accompanies severe malnutrition. These kids need help now." Cases of acute watery diarrhoea are on the rise in Ethiopia, with 1,354 new cases and three deaths reported in just one week this month. Meanwhile, food aid is lagging behind greatly increased needs. The United Nations' World Food Program estimates a current shortfall of US$400 million worth of food needed to reach hungry families in Ethiopia. The Ethiopian government estimates that 6.2 million people, half of them children, will need emergency food aid in the next few months. These needs are beyond those of the 8.2 million people in Ethiopia already receiving food aid through the Productive Safety Net Program run by the government together with Save the Children and other humanitarian agencies. That programme distributes food in exchange for community participation in public works, such as road, water well, and school construction and rehabilitation. In response to the current crisis, Save the Children plans to distribute food to 800,000 people in some of Ethiopia's hardest hit areas, and is expanding emergency health and nutrition programmes. These programmes include therapeutic feeding centres for severely malnourished children and supplementary feeding programmes for severely and moderately malnourished children. Sickness Worsens a Grave Situation Save the Children is also developing and expanding water and sanitation programmes to reduce cases of acute diarrhoea. Additionally, Save the Children is working with refugee populations in the Somali region, and plans to expand educational programmes currently serving 4,500 children in the Boqolmayo refugee camp. Save the Children also provides psychosocial counselling and health and nutrition support as needed to unaccompanied children in the refugee camp. With additional funds, these services could expand to help these children reunite with their families. More information Save the Children has worked in Ethiopia since the 1930s, and has had a permanent programme there since the 1970s. The agency responded to the food crisis of 1984 and has continued to provide life-saving services in times of severe food shortage. Ethiopia is one of the poorest countries in the world, and Save the Children is dedicated to supporting long-term development projects to help families and communities better support themselves. Programmes include health care interventions to reduce high rates of child mortality and HIV/AIDS prevention and support programs. Save the Children also works closely with pastoralist communities, providing alternative basic education for children who cannot attend school, and livelihoods support so their parents need not sell off their animals — often their only assets — during times of hardship.