Today the cabinet endorsed #Ethiopia’s 10-year perspective plan which will enable the country’s high growth trajectory and position Ethiopia as an African beacon of prosperity.

The plan consists of 10 pillars with unique focus areas on peacebuilding and institutional transformation

The Council of Ministers also approved the draft Media Proclamation which governs print and broadcast media, also introducing a legal framework for online media.

Outlining roles and responsibilities in the sector, the proclamation will bolster freedom of expression and press freedoms.

#PMOEthiopia

Ethiopia has a very long, and cherished history of hospitality and generosity to people who are forcibly displaced due to man-made and natural calamities. Currently, the Government of Ethiopia is providing protection to nearly one million refugees mainly from South Sudan, Somalia, Eritrea, and Sudan. These refugees are now hosted in 26 camps and non-camp locations.

The majority of these refugees in Ethiopia live in camps where they are provided with adequate protection and social services including food and non-food items, water and sanitation, shelter, healthcare, education, and other amenities. The Government through its “Out of Camp Policy” has entitled refugees and asylum seekers to live at a place of their choice outside refugee camp or settlement including in our capital, Addis Ababa provided that they cover their full costs by themselves or through their relatives, friends, or others who commit to supporting them. This has given opportunities to refugees to be productive members and enjoy normal life among the community. However, the procedure to apply for out of camp life needs to be processed in the camps in the interest of accountability and qualification purpose.

The Ethiopia refugee operation is now home to close to 200,000 Eritrean refugees across the country. Most of them are mainly sheltered in Tigray and Afar regions as well as in Addis Ababa.

The recently concluded law enforcement military operation by the Federal Government in the Tigray region of Ethiopia was not a direct threat to the Eritrean refugees who are living within and outside the camps. However, a large number of misinformed Eritrean refugees are moving out in an irregular manner particularly from Mai-Ayni and Adi-Harush refugee camps to Addis Ababa. Such an unregulated movement of the refugees with high dependence on aid will create difficulties in ensuring their safety, security, dignity, and in providing a coordinated protection and assistance. Given the priority the government gives to humanitarian assistance, the refugees were kept in a dignified manner and sheltered and nurtured by the government.

Simultaneously, the Government is working tirelessly to fully reactivate and continue provision of critical lifesaving services to the refugees as well as to ensure a safe and secured operating environment for frontline responders. As a result of which transportation of food to the camps is underway among other things. At this point in time, the areas in Tigray region in which the Eritrean refugee camps are situated are stable given that they are under the full control of the Federal Government.

With that understanding, therefore, the Government is safely returning those refugees to their respective camps where they can have access to service delivery systems, and more importantly they can live lawfully and peacefully with the communities that host them.

ETHIOPIA STATE OF EMERGENCY FACT CHECK Twitter: @SOEFactCheck Facebook: EthiopiaSOEFactCheck

“The Federal government takes its responsibility to citizen safety and well-being seriously and is committed to ensuring that vulnerable communities in Tigray region are provided the necessary humanitarian assistance. Reports to the contrary are results of a misinformation campaign by those that are bent on undermining the Federal government. ”
#PMOEthiopia

 

The meeting reviewed the practicalities to carry out humanitarian activities in the northern part of Ethiopia in accordance with the mutually agreed-upon sets of procedures stipulated in the bilateral agreement entered between the Ethiopian government and the UN for coordination of humanitarian activities on 29 November 2020.

The meeting, chaired by the Minister of Peace, Mufrihat Kamil, was attended by the UN Resident Representative and Humanitarian Coordinator, Dr. Catherine Sozi, and other senior Ethiopian Government and UN officials.

Prime Minister Dr. Abiy Ahmed and President Uhuru Kenyatta inaugurated the one stop border post in #Moyale on December 9, 2020. The inauguration of the border post is expected to facilitate trade between the two countries by cutting down inefficiencies at the Moyale border.

The two leaders also inaugurated the #Hawassa – #Moyale 500km asphalt road, which is the Ethiopia component of the Cape to Cairo Trans – Africa highway. Together with the one stop border post infrastructural investment, both aim to boost #Ethiopia-#Kenya trade ties.

#PMOEthiopia

 

Ambassador Redwan Hussien and Commissioner Mitiku Kasa give briefings on current situations in Tigra
State of Emergency Spokesperson, H.E. Ambassador Redwan Hussien, and Disaster Risk Management Commissioner H.E. Mitiku Kasa gave a briefing today (December 08) to the media about the current situation in Tigray, particularly on the humanitarian assistance activities in the region.

Ambassador Redwan reiterated that the government is in the latest phase of its law enforcement operation that gives priority to restoring infrastructure and rehabilitation of the affected people.

The hideouts of the TPLF criminals have already been identified and apprehending them would be materialized soon, the ambassador added.

He also talked about complaints of some aid agencies and the media for not getting easy access to the region and the presence of some bottlenecks in related issues.

Ambassador Redwan said all people, including humanitarian agencies need to align their operations with the directions given by the federal government about operation rules in the region, not only out of respect to the sovereignty of the country but for their own safety too.

Mr. Mitiku Kasa, on his part, talked about the ongoing humanitarian assistance in the region with a particular emphasis on coordination mechanisms between government organizations and non-governmental aid agencies.

He said the government is running the humanitarian assistance project through forming about 10 cluster arrangements that coordinate government agencies and the non-government ones based on the type of assistance that the people in Tigray need.

According to Mr. Mitiku, the arrangements include, among others, clusters on agriculture and livestock, water and sanitation, health, nutrition, food and non-food items, logistics, women and children.

The humanitarian assistance begins with the already vulnerable people who were aid recipients even before the commencement of the law enforcement operation in Tigray, he said.

However, he said, people who need humanitarian support and other locations in Tigray would further be identified with the cooperation of the interim government in Tigray.

He finally underscored that Aid agencies should cooperate with the government-led humanitarian support program for scores of reasons, including the rich experience of the country in handling such issues during drought, conflict, flood, and other disasters.

#MoFA

As ‘Arise News’ Reports today Ethiopian Airlines is ready to fly COVID19 vaccines to Africa.

Ethiopian Airlines has announced the launch of a cold chain air freight to transport temperature-sensitive medicines, including a potential Covid-19 vaccine and comes amidst concerns of who will handle the logistical nightmare that is transportation and distribution of the vaccines – when they become available – in Africa.

“Ethiopian Airlines will repeat its remarkable and globally recognized success in leading the fast delivery of PPEs few months ago with similar delivery speed, professional handling, and maintaining the cold chain during the forthcoming global distribution of the Covid-19 vaccine. In anticipation of the Covid-19 vaccine release, we will be at the forefront to further discharge our responsibility in the distribution of the vaccine across the globe,” said Ethiopian Group CEO Tewolde GebreMariam.

In preparing for the task ahead, the airline has signed a partnership agreement with Cainiao Smart Logistics Network, the logistics arm of China’s Alibaba Group, to launch a cold chain air freight for transporting temperature-controlled medicines.

Freighters carrying medicines will depart Shenzhen, southern China twice a week to Africa, and to the rest of the world via Dubai and Addis Ababa, according to a press release.

The airline noted that the entire cold chain cabin will be equipped with a temperature control system that monitors the cabin’s temperature in real-time.

The 54,000sqm cargo terminal in Ethiopia has also been outfitted with compartmentalized cold storage facilities with a temperature between – 23°C to 25.

So far, almost all vaccine candidates available need ultra-cold temperatures to transport or store.

The airline was key in helping to move tons of medical supplies meant for coronavirus response in Africa.

On top of its 12 dedicated cargo aircraft, Ethiopian reconfigured 25 passenger planes to turn them into freighters to respond to increased cargo demand.

China has about five coronavirus vaccine candidates at different human trial stages. President Xi Jinping has said that once approved, the vaccines will be made a global public good.

In Nairobi, Kenya Airways (KQ) unveiled its ultra-modern pharma facility at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.

KQ Cargo Director Dick Murianki said the facility’s immediate focus will be improving logistics in distributing a potential COVID-19 vaccine in Africa.

Jomo Kenyatta International Airport is one of the most important logistics hubs in Africa.

Since March, the national carrier has transported vital goods and medical supplies, about 6,000 tonnes of much-needed medical equipment to help fight the COVID-19 pandemic.

Source: Arise News

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Demeke Mekonnen briefs Horn of Africa, East Africa, and South African Ambassadors on current situations in Ethiopi
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia, H.E. Demeke Mekonnen briefed today (December 07) the ambassadors of #Djibouti, #Eritrea, #Kenya, #Sudan, #SouthSudan, #Burundi, #Rwanda, #Uganda, and #SouthAfrica on the current situation in the Tigray region.

He appreciated the ambassadors and leaders of the countries that they represent for fully supporting the law enforcement operation in Tigray following the sudden attack of the TPLF clique on the Northern command of the Ethiopian Defence Forces.

The efforts of South Africa, in its capacity as the Chair of the African Union for 2020, to bring peace in the region are commendable, he said.

Mr. Demeke said the operation is swiftly completed with minimum civilian causalities that enabled the federal government to carry out its plans to restore law and order in the region.

Now the government is engaged with rebuilding infrastructure and telecommunication services, ensuring access to humanitarian assistance to the affected people, returning displaced people to their homes while apprehending the fugitives, he said.

He said the federal government is working closely with the interim government of the Tigray region that has already started establishing the bureaucratic structure in the region, citing Shire as an example.

The ambassadors appreciated the federal government for rapidly concluding the law enforcement mission without compromising the lives of civilians.

They also affirmed that they are willing to support the federal government of Ethiopia in its efforts to provide humanitarian assistance to the affected people.

They have reiterated that the leaders of their respective countries’ are committed to stand by Ethiopia noting that Ethiopia is an anchor of peace in the region.

Current Phase of Rule of Law Operations in Tigray Region

#EthiopiaPrevails
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