As the social and financial consequences of the Novel Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) hits home, it is no secret the capital’s most vulnerable are feeling the pain more than others.
The economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic in Ethiopia – in regards to the airline industry and allied businesses – could cost the country some USD 1.2 billion in GDP and affect more than 323,000 jobs, a global airline body disclosed.
The National Bank of Ethiopia (NBE) issued a directive allowing businesses to engage in the electronic payment systems that would extend to various services.
Hotel owners and tour operators are seeking government assistance to withstand the severe impacts of the COVID-19 outbreak which brought the hospitality industry to a standstill.
In order to help in the tracking and surveillance of coronavirus cases, the government has installed a new digital system to improve the response for the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the Ministry of Health (MoH). The new system, officially unveiled on Monday, is believed to be a more suitable digital tool that enhances result oriented surveillance, monitoring, and tracking of coronavirus cases in response to the COVID-19 pandemic broadly at national level.
The Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) and the Oromo Federalist Congress (OFC) expressed their frustration over the process of the recent decision made by the National Electoral Board of Ethiopia (NEBE) to postpone the upcoming general election, which was scheduled to take place on August 29 2020.
The eagerly awaited “Cup of Excellence”, a coffee quality competition, which was scheduled to be held in Ethiopia for the first time, has been canceled and shifted to the US due to the COVID-19 pandemic, The Reporter has learnt.
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Interview
Yasmin Abdulwassie is the Regional Director for Farm Africa. Here, she shares with Samuel Getachew of The Reporter on the work of the organization, on some of the impact it has made towards conservation of ecosystems and agriculture development in Ethiopia together with its partners and the government in a nation that is still agriculture dependent and finally reflects on how the coronavirus might affect local agriculture.
Kojo Bentum-Williams is the Publisher-VoyagesAfriq Travel Media and United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) Senior Expert for Communications in Africa.
Orlando Sosa is an agriculture officer specializing in crops with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) working under the Sub Regional Office for Eastern Africa.
Jan Groenen is a Dutch entrepreneur and part owner of Moyee Coffee with Ahadu Woubshet, who is the CEO of the company.
Samuel Norgah is the Director of Plan International African Liaison Office.
John Nkengasong (PhD) is director of the Africa Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC). Prior to his current position, he served as the acting deputy principal director of the Center for Global Health, United States Center for Disease Control and Prevention (US CDC), and Chief of the International Laboratory Branch, Division of Global HIV and TB., US CDC.
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