Over 5 million people impacted by drought in #Amhara, #Tigray regions, UN report shows

According to the latest report from the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), over five million people are facing severe drought-like conditions in the Amhara and Tigray regions. The report reveals that approximately 3.5 million individuals are affected by these conditions in Amhara region, which are caused by crop failure, exacerbated food insecurity, a lack of agricultural resources, disease outbreaks, pest infestations, and farming disruptions caused by ongoing conflicts.

Despite the hope that the Meher harvest, expected between October 2023 and January 2024, will bring some relief in terms of food availability and access in parts of Tigray, it is anticipated that the production will still be below average, leading to early depletion of available food stocks.

https://reports.unocha.org/en/country/ethiopia

#Ethiopia: #IDPs in Western #Oromia suffer from lack of aid, forced returns amid volatile security

For years, internally displaced people (IDPs) in Western Oromia, particularly in the #East_Wollega, #West_Wollega, #Kellem_Wollega, and #Horo_Guduru_Wollega zones, have been enduring dire conditions. However, relief operations are constrained due to security threats, exacerbating the crisis.

The majority of IDPs were uprooted from their villages due to the ongoing conflict between the Oromo Liberation Army (#OLA) and government forces, as well as recurrent attacks by the non-state armed militia called #Fano. Districts bordering the #Amhara region have been the epicenters of these displacements. According to recent assessments, there are an estimated 1.4 million IDPs residing in 141 camps spread over 11 zones and 96 districts in the Oromia region. Out of these, 753,674 displaced persons are in the four zones of Western Oromia alone.

One such heartbreaking story is that of Halima Ahmed, 29, who has been displaced twice within six years. In 2017, she was expelled from the Somali region due to political unrest and conflicts. After seeking refuge in Western Oromia, she managed to rebuild her life through farming. However, a cross-border attack in September 2022 uprooted her once again, causing trauma and leaving her and her two children homeless.

https://addisstandard.com/in-depth-idps-in-western-oromia-suffer-from-lack-of-aid-forced-returns-amid-volatile-security/

#Ethiopia: Addis Abeba Trade Bureau cracks down on Sunday market traders selling overpriced products

#Addis_Abeba Trade Bureau is cracking down on #Sunday_market traders selling goods at inflated prices.

Administrative measures have been taken against traders in three sub-cities. Onions, in particular, have seen a significant price increase, exceeding 100 birr per kilogram.

The Bureau said it will deploy experts to regulate and oversee the markets.

https://addisstandard.com/news-addis-abeba-trade-bureau-cracks-down-on-sunday-market-traders-selling-overpriced-products/

One year on: Despite peace holding on, many Tigrayans struggle to find their feet

One year after the peace deal between #Ethiopia and the #Tigray People's Liberation Front, life in Tigray is slowly returning to normal. However, the legacy of the two-year war still lingers, with many people struggling to rebuild their lives. The conflict left the region's infrastructure in ruins, with hospitals lacking medical equipment and schools yet to reopen. According to the International Organization for Migration, a million people remain displaced, with 234,000 in the capital city of Mekelle.

The discovery of diverted aid shipments led to the suspension of food assistance to Tigray, worsening the conditions for many. Ethiopia's inflation and job losses further exacerbate the situation, making it difficult for households to afford basic supplies, including food. Despite these challenges, the people of Tigray are trying to find solace in everyday activities and cherish moments with loved ones.

However, concerns persist. #Eritrean troops continue to operate in border areas, and the issue of western Tigray, captured by neighboring #Amhara forces, remains unresolved. The road to recovery for Tigray is still long, but the resilience and determination of its people remain strong.

https://www.trtworld.com/discrimination/one-year-on-despite-peace-holding-on-many-tigrayans-struggle-to-find-their-feet-15639113

Power has been restored in the #Benishangul_Gumuz region after four days of blackout caused by grand theft on transmission lines.

According to #Ethiopian Electric Power (EEP) the theft of electrical infrastructure in the last nine months of the current fiscal year alone amounts to 23 million birr. In the 2014 EC alone, some 756 tons of steel was stolen from electric towers resulting in a loss of 100 million birr.

Watch as technicians restore the damaged line in Benishangul Gumuz region earlier this week

Addis Abeba Light Rail Transit receives three million dollars' worth of spare parts

Spare parts worth three million dollars have arrived in #Addis_Abeba, according to Yang Yihang, Minister Counsellor for Economic and Commercial Affairs at the Chinese Embassy in #Ethiopia. These spare parts are specifically intended for the Addis Abeba Light Rail Transit System and are currently being delivered. The news emerged after a meeting held yesterday between Yang Yihang and Semereta Sewasew, State Minister for Finance, to explore ways to strengthen bilateral cooperation.

The delivery of these spare parts is part of a $21 million financial support agreement signed in February 2023 between Ethiopia and #China. The 34-kilometer light rail system has faced severe shortages of spare parts, greatly hindering its ability to provide efficient transport services to commuters.

https://www.fanabc.com/english/china-ethiopia-seek-to-take-comprehensive-strategic-cooperation-to-highest-level/

Ministry of Agriculture advises farmers to minimize post-harvest losses during Meher harvesting season

As the end of the current main (meher) harvesting season approaches rapidly, the Ministry of Agriculture is alerting small-scale farmers in #Ethiopia to take proactive measures in order to minimize post-harvest losses, which have been reducing the country's annual output by up to a quarter.

Studies indicate that, under normal weather conditions, between 15% and 22% of mustard crop yield is lost annually during harvesting, handling, and storage in Ethiopia. However, the Ethiopian Institute of Meteorology predicts abnormal rainfall in regions that typically experience regular crop harvests due to the "Illinois Incident." The Ministry warns that, if appropriate precautions are not implemented, substantial crop losses could result.

https://www.facebook.com/MoAEthiopia/posts/pfbid02561mVvpgxSacoWtp1wB1N7UjKKVpXK8MK7cQRWH5pnEmVqkNWTfVPckmJE5qV8nBl

Can Traditional Leaders Help Bring Justice to #Ethiopia?

Sahle-Work Zewde may hold a largely ceremonial role as Ethiopia’s president, but she succinctly captured the plight of #Africa’s second-most-populous country when she recently addressed parliament.

“We have not succeeded in creating a national narrative that would bring us together,” she said in the opening session on October 9. “We have remained divided and have failed to accommodate our differences, resulting in conflicts and wars with irreplaceable costs.”

Political violence and ethnic and territorial disputes have torn Ethiopia apart for years. But in the wake of a bloody, two-year civil war, the country is looking for dialogue, reconciliation and justice.

Experts say Ethiopia’s formal justice system should be augmented by traditional systems, which typically handle local disputes.

“Ethiopia has a wealth of traditional dispute-resolution mechanisms that help achieve reconciliation, mend fractured relationships and preserve communal harmony,” Addis Ababa-based researcher Tadesse Simie Metekia wrote for the Institute for Security Studies.

“Traditional mechanisms could help deliver justice on a larger scale and in places where the formal system struggles. Since Ethiopia aims to reckon with multiple cases and periods of violence, the sheer volume of cases could overwhelm the formal justice system.” https://adf-magazine.com/2023/10/can-traditional-leaders-help-bring-justice-to-ethiopia/

#Ethiopia: #HRW says fighting, atrocities persist in #Tigray, #Amhara regions a year after peace deal

Human Rights Watch (HRW) criticized Ethiopia's failure to uphold a year-old peace deal in its Amhara and Tigray regions. In a statement on Wednesday, HRW accused Eritrean forces of killings, sexual violence, and obstructing aid in Tigray.

The statement also mentioned continuing clashes and abuses in the Amhara region.

HRW called on the #UN and concerned governments to pressure Ethiopia to protect civilians and ensure justice for victims.

https://addisstandard.com/news-hrw-says-fighting-atrocities-persist-in-tigray-amhara-regions-a-year-after-peace-deal/

#Ethiopia: Ethiopian Human Rights Council raises concern over alarming surge in abductions, attacks in #Oromia region

The Ethiopian Human Rights Council (#EHRCo) has raised serious concerns about the growing number of abductions and attacks committed by armed groups mainly in the Oromia region. Despite pleas to federal and regional authorities to intervene, these acts continue, indicating a failure to protect human rights and ensure security.

EHRCo's statement underscores disappearances, torture, arbitrary arrests, and other forms of abuse inflicted by armed groups in the region. The Council urges authorities to condemn the abuses, bring the culprits to justice, and take measures to safeguard communities.

It also promises to release a comprehensive report and support the crafting of stronger laws and policies.

https://addisstandard.com/news-ethiopian-human-rights-council-raises-concern-over-alarming-surge-in-abductions-attacks-in-oromia-region/