ETHIOPIA
ETHIOPIA
132,326
Total Cases
2,057
Total Deaths
via blogs.worldbank.org01/19/2021
A credit line for the times: Designing a COVID-19 rescue facility for Ethiopian firms - World Bank Group
The COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic has galvanized governments around the world to develop rescue and recovery packages to support small businesses at a scale never seen before. The US administration’s CARES act, for example, provides nearly $650 billion in relief to small busine
via voanews01/15/2021
WHO Calls on All Nations to Begin Vaccination Programs Within 100 Days - Voice of America
World Health Organization officials said Friday that they would like to see vaccination programs under way in every country in the world within the next 100 days, with frontline health workers and high-risk groups prioritized. Speaking at the agency’s regular briefing at its headquarters in Geneva, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the WHO emergency committee met this week and stressed the need for equitable access to vaccines around the world.
via arabnews01/13/2021
Ethiopian envoy says Sudan border issue must be resolved 'amicably, urgently' - Arab News
DUBAI: The Ethiopian Ambassador to Sudan said Wednesday that the border issue must be resolved “amicably and urgently,” Al Arabiya TV reported. The Ethiopian ambassador in Khartoum claimed Sudan had captured nine Ethiopian camps since November. The ambassador said that Ethiopia rejected the 1902 border agreement, which was concluded without Addis Ababa’s authorization.
via foxnews01/12/2021
Substitute teachers are in high demand as coronavirus cases rise - Fox News
The increasing need for more substitute teachers to fill in for full-time teachers calling out sick, resigning or even protesting over in-school learning as coronavirus cases continue to rise across the country has pushed some school districts to temporarily relax qualification requirements.
via rescue.org01/06/2021
As thousands more fleeing conflict in Ethiopia arrive in Eastern Sudan, the IRC scales up emergency response to protect women and children - International Rescue Committee
Following major conflict in the Tigray region of Ethiopia, over 60,000 refugees have fled over the border to Eastern Sudan; with thousands having arrived over the weekend. The International Rescue Committee (IRC) is working with the Sudanese authorities to roll out emergency services to meet additional needs in both Um Rakuba Camp and the newly established Tenetba camp where
via sfchronicle01/05/2021
Reuters says Ethiopia releases its journalist without charge - San Francisco Chronicle
NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — The Reuters news agency says Ethiopia released one of its video journalists without charge on Tuesday, nearly two weeks after his detention led to criticism of the erosion of press freedoms in the country. Kumerra Gemechu was arrested on Dec. 24 at his home in Ethiopia’s capital, Addis Ababa, amid pressure by authorities on journalists covering the deadly conflict in the country’s northern Tigray region. For weeks the region was cut off from the world and many communications remain tenuous. “We are delighted that Kumerra has been released and reunited with his family. His release today affirms he has done nothing wrong,” Reuters Editor-in-Chief Stephen J. Adler said in a statement. He added: “Journalists like Kumerra must be allowed to report the news in the public interest without fear of harassment or harm, wherever they are.” Kumerra's arrest followed the beating of Reuters photographer Tiksa Negari by two Ethiopian federal police officers on Dec. 16, Reuters has said. With his arrest, eight journalists were jailed in Ethiopia in 2020 alone, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists, which has said it has documented a “worrying pattern of holding journalists for weeks without formal charges in Ethiopia.” Watchdog group Reporters Without Borders in a statement said it was relieved to see Kumerra released, “but let’s not forget that many journalists have been subjected to arbitrary arrests these past few weeks. Three of them are still detained in very secretive conditions.” At least one detained journalist caught the coronavirus while behind bars, Reports Without Borders has said. Ethiopia at one point had no journalists in prison during the early days after Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed took office in early 2018 and...
via coloradosun01/01/2021
On Edge: With family missing in Ethiopia's civil war, Denver woman says her "mind is the hardest place to be" - The Colorado Sun
Millete Birhanemaskel, a refugee, long-time Denver resident and businesswoman, grappled with 2020 as many others have: She tried to protect her family, her employees, her tenants from COVID’s reach. She worried about the presidential election. And she managed to keep her coffee shop, the Whittier Cafe, from going under. She knew already what it was […]
via dabangasudan.org01/17/2021
Four COVID-19 cases confirmed in eastern Sudan camp for Ethiopian refugees - Radio Dabanga
Four COVID-19 cases were confirmed in the Um Rakouba refugee camp in eastern Sudan’s El Gedaref on Tuesday. The international Mercy Corps organisation which is running a health clinic in the Um Rakuba camp, called for swift and urgent additional measures “to prevent further transmission and avoid another humanitarian disaster”.
via finance.yahoo01/15/2021
Mysterious Wheat Deals Complicate Hunger Fight in Ethiopia - Yahoo Finance
(Bloomberg) -- Back in November, Ethiopia unveiled two deals to buy deeply discounted wheat from suppliers that seasoned traders had never heard of. A website named for one of the companies listed a German address that didn’t exist and appeared to use stock photos of models.Two months on, it remains a mystery who was behind the deals or what their motivation was, especially as Ethiopia says it hasn’t lost any money. One thing is clear though: no wheat has been delivered. The government has now canceled the tenders and plans to start over.It’s an embarrassing blunder that could have ramifications for a country in desperate need of food. Ethiopia relies on more than 1 million tons of wheat imports a year to feed its people; the two canceled tenders together represented 600,000 tons. Global wheat prices have risen since the deals were initially awarded, meaning it will probably have to pay more now.Ethiopia’s grain-tender process has for years been dogged by cancellations and corruption allegations, as well as putting strain on much-needed foreign-exchange reserves. The nation had already postponed or canceled tenders over the course of last year. That’s especially a problem for a country where some 11 million people were seen in need of food aid by the end of last year.Ethiopia’s farming industry last year suffered from the worst desert-locust infestations in decades as well as the Covid-19 pandemic. At the same time, conflict in parts of the country displaced tens of thousands of people, adding to widespread food shortages.“There is no doubt that there is a major food security crisis,” said Tedd George, founder at Kleos Advisory, a U.K.-based adviser on African markets. “Ethiopia has lost a number of tenders beforehand. It may have been that they have had difficulty finding more established, more respected traders to provide wheat.”A spokesperson for the Ministry of Finance this week said that while the two tenders were canceled, the nation has been able to meet its needs through other purchases and domestic supply, though couldn’t comment further.Major grain merchants have largely shunned Ethiopia’s tenders due to unfavorable terms such as requiring offers to be valid for 30 days, exposing traders to losses should prices change. However, there are a handful of smaller suppliers that regularly participate in the tenders.The two tenders awarded in November were for the purchase of 400,000 tons from Rosentreter Global Food Trading and 200,000 tons from Martina Mertens, at a combined value of about $117 million. However, the companies were unknown to nine experienced international grain traders surveyed by Bloomberg.The Public Procurement and Property Disposal Service this month said it canceled the tenders because the companies didn’t follow through with the deals and plans to reissue them. Since the tenders were awarded in early November, benchmark futures have climbed about 10% to $6.72 a bushel in Chicago.When asked about Rosentreter’s authenticity in November, PPPDS Director-General Tsewaye Muluneh said that while it was the first time the new company had participated in tenders, it had passed the PPPDS’s checks.Two CompaniesThere are reasons to question the firms’ legitimacy. Rosentreter and Martina Mertens offered wheat much cheaper than other tender participants. The German address that was stated on a website for Rosentreter doesn’t exist, phone numbers wouldn’t connect, an email failed to deliver and personal biographies used what seems are stock photos of models.Rosentreter’s website no longer works, and Bloomberg couldn’t identify one, or locate contact details, for Martina Mertens.It’s not clear who would stand to benefit from the failed tenders. Tsewaye said Ethiopia hasn’t lost any money in the two tenders, with the companies even putting up a bond payment to participate. She wouldn’t elaborate further.The Ministry of Finance didn’t respond to phone calls, emails and text messages over the past two months seeking comment on the authenticity of the companies involved and whether the awards were a blunder.The government held a monopoly on wheat purchases until early last year when, as part of new state reforms, it started allowing some private companies to import as long as they use their own foreign currency. There’s no public list of who is eligible to import.It seems the country still needs more food. The Catholic Relief Services said Ethiopia has asked it for assistance, with distribution already underway. The World Food Programme also confirmed it’s assisting the government in procuring wheat.Ethiopia’s National Disaster Risk Management Commission said 11.1 million people needed food aid last year and that it’s working on figures for 2021. The country is currently buying about 700,000 tons of wheat and plans to purchase another 300,000 tons later this year, said Mitiku Kassa, head of the agency.“It is inevitable they are going to need support from the World Food Programme,” Kleos Advisory’s George said. “At least this will be wheat, not a tender someone will cancel.”(Updates with wheat price in 10th paragraph)For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.comSubscribe now to stay ahead with the most trusted business news source.©2021 Bloomberg L.P.
via arabnews01/10/2021
Algerian president returns to Germany to be treated for COVID-19 complications - Arab News
ALGIERS: Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune flew back to Germany on Sunday for treatment in hospital of complications in his foot resulting from a coronavirus infection, the presidency said. Tebboune, 75, had returned home two weeks ago from Germany after two months of treatment for COVID-19. The treatment of the complications “was not medically urgent” and had been due
via guardian.ng01/07/2021
Coronavirus – Ethiopia: COVID-19 Update (6th January 2021) - Guardian
Daily: Laboratory Test: 5,801 Severe Cases: 230 New Recovered: 161 New Deaths: 2 New Cases: 545 Total: Laboratory Test: 1,831,857 Active Cases: 11,845 Total Recovered: 112,974 Total Deaths: 1,965 Total Cases: 126,786 Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Health, Ethiopia.
via fstoppers01/05/2021
Nat Geo Photographer Didn't Wear a Mask in Ethiopia Because Ethiopians 'Have Stronger Immune Systems' - Fstoppers
National Geographic photographer George Steinmetz has drawn criticism and accusations of colonial attitudes after presenting himself without a mask in Ethiopia and explaining that face coverings and social distancing weren’t necessary because of the stronger immune systems of rural Ethiopians. Steinmetz posted a photograph to his Instagram of himself flying a drone surrounded
via guardian.ng01/03/2021
Coronavirus – Ethiopia: COVID-19 reported cases in Ethiopia (2 January 2021) - Guardian
Daily Laboratory test: 5,532 Severe cases: 235 New recovered: 74 New deaths: 7 New cases: 397 Total Laboratory test: 1,811,578 Active cases: 10,778 Total recovered: 112,325 Total deaths: 1,944 Total cases: 125,049 Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Health, Ethiopia.
via arabnews01/01/2021
Ethiopian forces killed scores in June-July unrest: Report - Arab News
NAIROBI, Kenya: A new report says Ethiopian security forces killed more than 75 civilians and injured nearly 200 during deadly unrest in June and July after the killing of a popular singer. More than 30 others were beheaded, tortured or dragged in the streets by attackers amid ethnic slurs.
via voanews01/13/2021
WHO Emergencies Chief: Second Year of Coronavirus Pandemic Could Be Worse - Voice of America
The World Health Organization’s (WHO) emergencies chief warned Wednesday the second year of the coronavirus pandemic may be tougher than the first, at least in the first few months. During an online discussion with other WHO officials, Mike Ryan said given the transmission dynamics and other issues they have seen so far, 2021 is looking tougher, especially in the Northern Hemisphere. At least two variants of the virus, identified in Britain and South Africa, have shown to be more transmissible, if not more dangerous and raised concern in European countries.
via voanews01/13/2021
Taiwanese Health Official Warns Against Reliance on Coronavirus Vaccines - VOA Asia
The Taiwanese health official credited with leading one of the world's most successful COVID-19 control efforts is warning people globally to keep up their guard against coronavirus even as vaccines emerge. Governments will face challenges in distributing vaccine shots to their populations, leading to an “imbalance” between those who are protected and those still at risk, Taiwan Health Minister Chen Shih-chung told VOA on Monday.
via thenationalherald01/08/2021
UN Fears Massive COVID Transmission in Ethiopia's Tigray | heatlh & science , health - The National Herald
NAIROBI, Kenya — The United Nations fears "massive community transmission" of COVID-19 in Ethiopia's troubled Tigray region, fueled by displacement and the collapse of health services, as humanitarian workers finally begin to access the region two months after fighting began. Hospitals have been looted, even destroyed - The National Herald
via blogs.worldbank.org01/07/2021
How livelihoods deteriorated in Sub-Saharan Africa due to COVID-19 - World Bank Group
Although rates of infection have not been as high as in other regions, the economic consequences of the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic in Sub-Saharan Africa have been severe due to the combination of declining global demand and local efforts to contain the disease. In what is al
via voanews01/05/2021
Ethiopian Police Release Detained Reuters Cameraman Without Charge - Voice of America
NAIROBI - Ethiopian police released Reuters cameraman Kumerra Gemechu on Tuesday after detaining him without charge for 12 days. Police had told his lawyer Melkamu Ogo that their lines of inquiry included accusations of disseminating false information, communicating with groups fighting the government, and disturbing the public's peace and security. However, Ogo said he had seen no evidence. "We are delighted that Kumerra has been released and reunited with his family. His release today affirms he has done nothing wrong," Reuters Editor-in-Chief Stephen J.
via guardian.ng01/02/2021
Coronavirus – Ethiopia: COVID-19 reported cases in Ethiopia (1 January 2021) - Guardian
Daily Laboratory test: 5,810 Severe cases: 245 New recovered: 155 New deaths: 14 New cases: 388 Total Laboratory test: 1,806,046 Active cases: 10,462 Total recovered: 112,251 Total deaths: 1,937 Total cases: 124,652 Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Health, Ethiopia.