Ethiopian Women Jumps from 3rd floor to escape from her KUWATI Boss who wanted to kill her

www.nazrett.com Home of Ethiopian News and Blog Breaking News KUWAIT: Lying helplessly on her bed in the female ward of the Al-Razi Hospital, Sarah (last name withheld), a Sri Lankan maid, could not contain her tears as she narrated her ordeal. "I had no option other than to jump from the third floor of the building after I received the worst beating of my life from my madam. She locked me inside the bathroom and threatened to skin me alive when she returned from work," she said, groaning in pain. According to the nurses, Sarah has undergone three surgical operations . She fractured both legs and her spine when she tried to escape her madam's wrath by jumping from the third floor of the building. As cases of killings, suicides and attempted suicides continue to grab the headlines in Kuwait's newspapers, one cannot but wonder why all these domestic workers are taking these extreme measures rather than living in sorrow, fear and unhappiness. Some of these maids claimed they have been subjected to extremely hostile conditions, which forced them to attempt suicide as their only way out. Some were or are being humiliated, mentally and physically tortured, frustrated, and made hopeless. Many have been r aped, starved and made to suffer all forms of ill treatment at their employers' hands. Karima, an Ethiopian maid (registered as an 'unknown' in Al-Razi Hospital), claimed that her madam constantly insulted her, telling her that she smelled like a rotten egg. Others claimed they were beaten, like the severely-battered 25-year-old Filipina maid, Christina, who was allegedly severely beaten and then thrown from a third floor window by her employer. Christiana's harrowing plight has exposed the predicament of a worrying number of domestic workers in Kuwait. Apart from her other broken bones, Chr istiana reels in pain as she undergoes a series of operations to correct her broken spine. The situation is not limited to housemaids, as we have seen many expatriates committing suicide in Kuwait. "The truth is that many expatriates in Kuwait live in fear-the fear of losing their jobs (especially during this economic meltdown), the fear of losing their residence and being deported, etc," said Charlie Charles, an administrative official from Kuwait University. "This element of fear causes psychological problems for many expatriates. The fact that losing your job means losing your residency in K uwait makes it more troublesome. Sometimes, maids are forced to pay a certain amount of money to get back their passport from their sponsors, even when they decide to go back to their countries. In these cases, the maids are at their employers' mercy. Even the slightest mistake will strip them of the opportunities offered by their hard-earned jobs and residencies. Karima, who has been in the hospital for more than two months, said she has undergone six surgical operations. She explained how she had run away from her sponsor after her madam's son repeatedly raped her, threatening to kill her if she cried out. "I couldn't take it any more. I cannot tell my madam and I cannot continue to allow that [rape] any more, so I had to run away-leaving my bags and all I had worked for," she said. When asked why she couldn't return to her home country, she said that her madam demanded KD 250 since she didn't complete her contract. "I don't have that kind of money. My monthly salary was KD 40 and she seized the last month's salary because a plate slipped out of my hand and broke. Since I left my madam's house I have been doing some part time cleaning jobs with my friends to sustain myself. I am hoping to go home during the next amnesty period," Karima added. When asked how she landed up in Al-Razi Hospital, Karima said she tried to flee from their Hawally home when they were informed that police were raiding their apartments. "I jumped from the second floor. My legs were shattered. I was brought here by a good Kuwaiti woman who saw me in my pool of blood. Since then, I have been here, no friends, no father, no sponsor, only God and these sisters [pointing at the nurses] are taking care of me," she wept as she tried to explain further. Seriously injured Mesina, an Indonesian maid with a spinal injury, said she had leapt from the third floor while trying to flee from her employer. The scars of her injuries can been seen on her face. "There are so many of us [maids] here [in Al-Razi Hospital]. This is our last stop because we can't run anymore. Please try and help us," she pleaded in an emotional voice. There have been several reviews recently of Kuwait's kafeel system in a bid to curb the excesses of some sponsors, but these have left little or no impact on the lives of these domestic workers who make up a quarter of Kuwait's population. Recent reports shows the total number of domestic workers in the country has risen to about 700,000. The majority of these are Asians, mostly from Indonesia, the Philippines, Sri Lanka and India

Eritreans influx to Ethiopia doubles in 2009

www.nazrett.com Home of Ethiopian News and Blog Breaking News The Ethiopian Administration for Refugees and Returnees Affairs (ARRA), an implementing partner of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), said today that The number of Eritreans fleeing to Ethiopia has doubled this year. In its annual report, ARRA said that every month, on average, 1122 Eritreans are crossing borders to Ethiopia and this figure is twofold comparing to that of last year’s average, 600. With a shot-to kill policy being in effect along the borders in Eritrea (according to recent arrivals), on daily bases a number of Eritreans risk their life in an attempt to cross heavily armed and patrolled borders of Eritrea. According to a latest source from the administration, with thousands already resettled to a third country, currently there are 36,402 Eritrean refugees in four Ethiopian camps. RESETTLEMENT OPERATION Meanwhile the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) in collaboration with the international Organization for Migration (IOM) continues group-resettlement to Eritrean refugees residing in different camps in Ethiopia. Accordingly, among the total 6,800 granted, since June, 782 Eritrean refugees have flown to the United States. An additional 1815 refugees will follow during October and December 2009. So far 5719 Eritreans who might risk return back are resettled from Ethiopia to a third country to begin a new life. Eritreans are flooding to neighboring countries complaining an alleged prosecution, intimidation and harassment at home by the Eritrean government. The refugees, also many from rural origins, receive pre-departure orientation to avoid “culture shock” up on arrival. Eritreans and Ethiopians are soft spoken, modest and shy by nature. So on top of this personality, in most cases they find it challenging to easily blend in to the most modern and different western style unless an intensive and consistent trainings and briefing are offered up on arrival too. Source:- Sudan Tribune

Zambia invited to Cecafa Cup

www.nazrett.com Home of Ethiopian News and Blog Breaking News Zambia have been invited to take part in this year's Cecafa Cup which kicks off in Kenya on 28 November. Kenya will host the tournament for the first time in 17 years. The official mascot was unveiled in Nairobi on Wednesday. Cecafa general secretary Nicholas Musonye said two other southern African nations had asked to participate. But Zimbabwe and Malawi were told that there was only room for one team from their region. The Zambians have been the guests of this competition since 2007 when they walked away with the spoils in Ethiopia. Joining them and hosts Kenya in this year's event are Tanzania, Uganda, Ethiopia, Sudan, Somalia, Rwanda, Burundi, Eritrea, Djibouti, and Zanzibar. Two groups will be based in Nairobi while the third will be at the Mumias Complex, on the Kenya-Uganda boarder. A total of 26 matches will be played over the tournament's two weeks.

Virgin Nigeria gets new name tomm at Murtala Muhammed Intl Airport, Lagos

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

COME tomorrow, the country’s flag carrier airline, Virgin Nigeria will operate under a new identity, courtesy of Virgin Atlantic Airline’s exit from its technical management.Already, two of the airline’s aircraft, according to a reliable source, have already been painted in the new livery, and are expected to be flown into the country tomorrow, to signpost a new beginning for the airline.

The Chief Executive Officer of the airline, Captain Dapo Olumide is expected to unveil the new name at a press conference at the presidential wing of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.

The change of name brings to an end the seeming frosty relationship between business mogul, Sir Richard Branson and the new management of the airline, despite the fact that Virgin Atlantic, owned by the maverick businessman, still owns 49 per cent equity in the airline.

Branson, it would be recalled, had threatened last year to withdraw his shares and support from the airline following Federal Government’s relocation of the airline’s operations at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, to the newly built Murtala Muhammed Airport 2 (MMA2).

Piqued by the action of government, Branson wrote a strongly worded letter to President Umar Musa Yar’Adua, expressing his disappointment over government’s flouting of an agreement it signed with the airline at inception to make the MMIA its hub of operation.

But the government, convinced of its action, maintained that its decision was based purely on national security.

A source from the airline confirmed to The Guardian that a new name had already been found for the airline, and would be unveiled on tomorrow. The source however declined to disclose the new name, stressing that, “the new name will be known on Thursday (tomorrow)”.

Sources hinted The Guardian that the new name sounds more Nigerian than the Virgin brand, that will be acceptable to more traveling public.

Just last month, as a prelude to a new name, which Nigerians have been waiting eagerly for, the management of the airline, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, signed a technical service agreement with Ethiopian Airlines, which was a first step towards the plan by the carrier to drop the Virgin brand.

The airline had sought the assistance of the most profitable airline in Africa-Ethiopian Airlines, after Virgin Atlantic Airways stopped technical assistance to the airline.

The deal will allow Ethiopian Airline to service Boeing aircraft in the fleet of the Nigerian carrier, training of pilots, cabin crew and aircraft engineers, with a training network and capabilities.

Until now, the airline had been embroiled in financial challenges that threatened its existence, before the new management rescued it from collapse.

Olumide had recently, while briefing media executive in Lagos, disclosed that the carrier had a huge debt profile running into $200 million, stating that the airline’s long haul operations were no longer profitable, the reason for carrier’s concentration on regional routes.

He stated that Virgin Nigeria was recapitalised with $50 million, adding that at that time $50 million seemed sufficient, bearing in mind the reservation of routes that was given to the airline, which was a source of revenue.

Ethiopia’s Rebels Threaten Oil Companies in Ogaden Region

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

By Jason McLure

Sept. 16 (Bloomberg) -- Ethnic Somali rebels from the Ogaden National Liberation Front issued a fresh warning to companies exploring for oil in Ethiopia’s eastern Somali region, known as the Ogaden.

No business should be conducted in Ogaden “until there is a political solution to the conflict,” the ONLF said today in an e-mailed statement. The rebels “will not be responsible for any collateral damages that occur from its engagements with the Ethiopian army,” according to the statement. The group also accused oil companies of “disinheriting the Ogaden people of their natural resources.”

The warning from the rebel group comes after the Ethiopian Reporter, an Addis Ababa-based newspaper, said that a contractor for Malaysia’s Petroliam Nasionale Bhd had resumed drilling in the remote region late last month. Petronas suspended operations there in April 2007 after the ONLF attacked an exploration site near the town of Abole, killing 73 people. The site was operated by a Chinese contractor, Zhonguyuan Petroleum Exploration Bureau.

Shimeles Kemal, a spokesman for the Ethiopian government declined to comment immediately when reached on his mobile phone today in the capital, Addis Ababa.

The ONLF is seeking autonomy for Ethiopia’s Somali region, an arid land twice the size of England that is home to about 4 million people, most of whom are ethnic Somali nomadic herders. Conflict between the ONLF and Ethiopia has simmered for the past two decades.

To contact the reporter on this story: Jason McLure in Addis Ababa via Johannesburg on pmrichardson@bloomberg.net.

Last Updated: September 16, 2009 04:36 EDT

Ethiopia: March in Washington DC Pictures

www.nazrett.com Home of Ethiopian News and Blog Breaking News
On Sunday, September 13, 2009, many Ethiopians and others gathered in front of the US Capitol building to bring attention to the ongoing genocide and other human rights crimes being perpetrated against the people of Ethiopia by the repressive authoritarian government of Prime Minister Meles Zenawi. The event was a success and we believe it will lead to many new opportunities. One of these will be the possibility of working together in collaboration to map out a strategic plan for the future.Click here for all pictures
http://ecadforum.com/blog/2009/09/15/ethiopia-march-in-washington-dc-pictures/

Jolie takes adopted daughter Zahara on first visit to native Ethiopia

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

WASHINGTON - Hollywood actress Angelina Jolie’s eldest daughter Zahara returned to her native Ethiopia for the first time since her adoption four years ago.


The four-year-old flew back home with her mother at the weekend.

It all happened when Jolie, currently in Kenya on a United Nations mission with partner Brad Pitt and their six children, broke away from the trip to cross the border into Ethiopia.

Zahara’s little sister Shiloh, 3, also accompanied them.

However, Pitt and the couple’s other four children stayed behind.

“On a trip to Kenya with their children, Angelina stopped in Dabaab Refugee Camp, and also flew to Ethiopia with Zahara and Shiloh for two days,” Contactmusic quoted a source as having told People.com.

“(It was) the first time Zahara had been back home since her adoption. The trip was about keeping up that culture for her,” the source added.

If reports are to be believed, Jolie is looking for a property to build a tuberculosis and AIDS clinic in Zahara’s name.

The Hollywood couple jointly founded a similar organisation to aid impoverished children-known as the Maddox Jolie-Pitt Project-after adopting their eight-year-old son Maddox from Cambodia in 2002. (ANI