The World Health Organization (WHO) in Ethiopia on Monday dispatched experts and medical supplies in response to the needs of the internally displaced persons in the Gedeo and West Guji zones in Oromia Regional State and the Southern Regional State.
According to official government reports, an estimated 995,559 individuals were displaced by inter-communal clashes across the Gedeo and West Guji zones in February and March. The Government of Ethiopia appealed in mid-March for support from partners in response to the escalating situation.
In response, WHO sent emergency health kits capable of treating 115 000 people for three months, along with supplementary kits containing medical supplies (gloves, needles, syringes) and drugs for 70,000 people for three months. WHO has also provided kits for treating 250 severe acute malnourished children with medical complications for three months.
The supplies were delivered to Gedeo Zone ahead of an assessment team led by WHO Representative to Ethiopia, Rufaro Chatora (PhD), who visited the region to assess the situation. (Relief Web)
Ethiopia hands over AfCTA ratification instrument to AU
Ethiopia on Wednesday deposited the instrument of its ratification of the agreement on African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Mamo Mihretu, Senior Advisor to the Prime Minister and Chief Trade Negotiator handed over the instrument to Moussa Faki Mahamat, Chairperson of the African Union Commission.
The handover ceremony was witnessed by Ambassador Woinshet Tadesse, Permanent Secretary for African and Middle East Asian Countries at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
On the occasion, Moussa Faki said AfCFTA is set to enhance competitiveness at the industry and enterprise level through exploiting opportunities for scale production, continental market access and better reallocation of resources in continental Africa.
Mamo said that the decision is consistent with Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s (PhD) vision of creating a closer and enhanced regional integration, where minds are open to ideas and markets are open to trade
The AfCFTA, one of the biggest trade agreements since the creation of the World Trade Organization (WTO), attempts to create a single market in Africa. (FBC)
Basin dev’t high council approves national water use tariff draft regulation
Ethiopian River Basin Development High Council on Thursday approved a draft national water use tariff draft regulation.
The tariff will be paid from two to three percent of the total profit of the sectors which will be used for pollution protection ways. It levies tariff on the sectors industry, fishery, irrigation, hydropower, water
Accordingly, sectors such as cut flower companies that may harm the environment will pay more than other fields to equalize the harm they cause.
Deputy Prime Minister and Chairperson of the Council, Demeke Mekonnen said on the occasion the main purpose of the tariff is to make people use water more efficiently and teach the value as to protect the resource.
He urged all regional administrates to protect the basins in their respective regions and mobilize the community so as to improve the water bodies.
Water, Irrigation and Energy Minister Sileshi Bekele and Deputy Chairperson of the Council said strategic works are being done to handle climate change problems in the basins. (ENA)
Netherlands extends over EUR 27 mln grant for construction of children’s hospital
The Government of The Netherlands on Wednesday extended 27.44 million Euros grant agreement to Ethiopia today.
The grant agreement was signed between State Minister of Finance Admasu Nebebe and Netherlands Ambassador to Ethiopia Van Loosdrecht.
The assistance will be specifically used to construct and equip Addis Children’s Hospital on the premises of Alert Hospital here in Addis Ababa, it was learned.
Speaking on the occasion, Admasu said the grant will enable to complete and equip Addis Children’s Hospital with the sought quality for having a specialized and effective medical service in Ethiopia.
The Government of Ethiopia has allotted 20 million Euros to complement the grant for the establishment and equipping of the hospital with 300 beds, the state minister stated.
The overall goal of the project is to address health challenges and expand needs of the government to improve children’s health, he added.
Ambassador Van Loosdrecht said on his part the support demonstrates Netherlands contribution to the developmental activities of Ethiopia. (ENA)