The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic which first broke out in Wuhan and has been spreading across the world. The numbers of new infections and deaths across the globe are still increasing, which have posed major public health and governance concerns. All necessary and mandatory actions are being taken by each country, such as measures to restrict travels, case detection, quarantine, guidance and information to the public, and others as well.
Medical supplies are highly required to curtail the spread of the virus. Shortage of effective drugs, insufficient hospital services and medical supplies, logistics, and others will escalate the spread of the virus.
Since the supplies cannot be found everywhere, they have to be transported from where it is available. However, many countries across the world suspend flight and it is the easiest ways of controlling the spread of the virus.
In response to global challenges Ethiopian Airlines is working at this critical time supplying necessary things to the rest of Africans. In order to respond to the global pandemic it needs solidarity of the whole society. The pandemic will be ended with the continuous efforts of all concerned bodies.
Ethiopian Cargo and Logistics Services, Africa’s largest cargo operator is transporting emergency medical supplies donated by Jack Ma Foundation, the founder of China’s e-commerce giant Alibaba, to support the fight against COVID-19 with the aim of reversing COVID 19 in Africa .
ET’s freighter flight carrying 108 tons of test kits and other healthcare products took off from Guangzhou, China and arrived at Addis Ababa Bole International Airport on 22 March 2020 which is the first part of the donation.
The medical supplies are delivered to Africa following Ethiopian Prime Minster Dr. Abiy Ahmed’s discussion with Jack Ma regarding the distribution of the supplies to combat the spread of COVID-19 in Africa.
The flag carrier of Ethiopia flies to destinations all over the world. But its African presence and influence does not end with the Airline itself. Ethiopian Airlines group is voted ‘Best Airline in Africa for 3rd Consecutive Year at Skytrax 2019 World Airlines Awards Addis Ababa, 19 June 2019.
Ethiopian Airlines has been deploying a massive cargo capacity to facilitate the flow of essential cargo such as medical supplies for the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic across the world. Ethiopian cargo service is responding to the growing demand for air cargo services around the globe following the spread of COVID- 19.
The Pharma Wing of Ethiopian Cargo and Logistics Services, which is housed within the largest transshipment terminal in Africa, has been central to the airline’s effective handling and shipping of medical supplies across Africa and beyond, it noted.
Ethiopian Group CEO Tewolde Gebremariam said Ethiopian has been serving the world in this difficult time by deploying its state-of-the-art Pharma Wing as well as its cargo and passenger fleet.
“Now that Addis Ababa is designated as Humanitarian Air Hub by WFP and WHO owing to our advanced facilities, vast network of 127 international destinations and fleet, we will further bolster our efforts as the leading air cargo service provider in Africa,” he underscored.
According to the release, Ethiopian cargo is equipped with temperature controlled Pharma handling storage covering an area of 54,000 square meters which the Pharma Wing is suitable for handling medical supplies in different temperature ranges.
The Pharma Wing is also recently handling medical supplies through the use of active containers and real-time temperature monitoring system.
Dedicated and trained staffs stationed at the facility ensure that all operations are carried out in line with the rules and regulations of International Air Transport Association (IATA) and other regulatory bodies throughout the supply chain.
The UN World Food Program chooses Addis Ababa as a humanitarian shipment hub for Africa to distribute medical supplies. Now that Addis Ababa is designated as Humanitarian Air Hub by WFP and WHO owing to our advanced facilities, vast network of 127 international destinations and fleet, working to further bolster the efforts as the leading air cargo service provider in Africa.
Currently, Ethiopian Cargo and Logistics Services is transporting an average of 1.4 million kilograms of temperature-sensitive healthcare products monthly, including medicines, biological, biotechnologies, diagnostics, vaccines and medical devices, among others.
In early March, Ethiopian Airlines CEO Tewolde Gebremariam told an aviation conference in Addis Ababa the coronavirus pandemic was a temporary problem comparable to a natural disaster.
Across Africa, airlines stand to lose USD 6 billion in passenger revenue in 2020 compared to last year because of the coronavirus, the International Air Transport Association has predicted. Ethiopian Airlines, the state-owned jewel of the national economy and a vital source of foreign currency, announced $550 million revenue loss from January to April alone.
Yet even as the airline moves to assume a central role in Africa’s pandemic response ferrying badly needed medical equipment across the continent it may last no more than three months before seeking outside financial help, Tewolde said.
Accordingly in crisis response, on Monday it has finished distributing the second batch of masks, testing kits, ventilators and other supplies donated to African countries by Chinese billionaire Jack Ma.
The Ethiopian Herald April 25/2020
BY HAILE DEMEKE
Manufacturers advised to shift to currently demanded items
ADDIS ABABA – In order to cope up with market problems and protect the economy from failure manufacturing industries in the country should shift their works temporarily to satisfy the needs of the current market rather than closing them, advises an economist.
Economist Dr. Gutu Tesso for his part told The Ethiopian Herald that, as the pandemic is affecting global economy the government and the coronavirus pandemic caused the largest global recession in history, global population at the time being placed on lockdown. All concerned bodies have to take necessary measures to control supply shortage and protecting economy from failure.
He said that supply shortages are expected to affect a number of sectors due to panic buying, increased usage of goods to fight the pandemic, and disruption to factories and logistics, in addition, it also led to price gouging. There have been widespread reports of supply shortages of pharmaceuticals locally, with many areas seeing panic buying and consequent shortages of food and other essential items.
He suggested that in order to cope up with problems and protecting economy from failure manufacturing industries operated in the country should shift their works temporarily which satisfies the need of the current market rather than closing them.
This temporary shift in operation will reduce disruptions of supply the chains of food, medical supplies and others. Now, most of these items, from protective gear to active ingredients to produce critical medicine, are currently produced abroad, and those manufacturers are experiencing both a surge of demand globally and local disruptions as their sites become affected by the pandemic. Local manufacturing industries should shift their activity to control both pandemic and supply shortage, Gutu says.
The Ministry of Trade and Industry said it has been producing max, hand sanitizer and alcohol that are used for the protection of the corona virus pandemic at home by local industries.
The socio-economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic has had far reaching consequences beyond the spread of the virus itself. The virus has spread around the globe; concerns have shifted from supply-side manufacturing issues to decreased business in the services sector.
According to Melaku Alebel, Minister of Trade and Industry, the measures are taking range from issuing warning letters to closure of the businesses. Beyond stabilizing market ministry is working for the health of the public. And the ministry said local industry produced over 3 million hand sanitizer locally.
So far 81 manufacturing industry are identified out of which seven are started producing 217,000 surgical and n-95 max daily. When fully operation all 81 manufacturing industry will able to produce over 5.1 million max to the market, he indicated.
Accordingly ministry said increasing productivity of the industry is crucial at this critical time in response to the virus and also controlling inflation. Providing basic service at this time is crucial and the ministry is providing services for the society with affordable prices. The ministry is importing wheat amounts 650,000 quintal, 615,000 quintal of sugar, 40, 000, 000 liter of oil, daily.
In coordination with the cooperative agency the ministry is working to enhance supply chain and substitute imports with local products. Next year the ministry is planned to fully substitute oil import with local one.
In response to the pandemic ministry of trade has taken measures against 25,068 entities that disrupted business operations following the outbreak of the coronavirus working for profit rather than safety of the public
The Ethiopian Herald April 25/2020
BY HAILE DEMEKE
Emperor Haile Selassie I historic visit to Jamaica
Emperor Haile Selassie visited Jamaica on 21April 1966. Over 100,000 Rastafarians from all over Jamaica descended to the airport to welcome Emperor Haile Selassie. The Emperor Haile Selassie‘s triumphant entry into the “Land of Water and Rock” on this day in 1966 remains evergreen in the history of Jamaica, the “land of Marcus Garvey and Bob Marley.” This week in 1966, Emperor Haile Selassie had brought the overwhelming happiness to every Jamaica people.
The tumultuous crowd waited for hours to receive the Emperor by dancing the reggae beats. The sands murmured; the oceans and rivers blossomed; the birds sang and the trees clapped their hands as his imperial majesty, Emperor Haile Selassie I, visited. At that time, Emperor Haile Selassie told Jamaican: “Do not worship me, I am not God. I’m only a man. I worship Jesus Christ.” After wards, the day still symbolizes the adorned Ethiopian-Jamaican relations. The Emperor told the Rastafarians they should not immigrate to Ethiopia until they had found freedom in Jamaica.
As in a document of the Commonwealth Relations Office recorded in 1966, the British Commissioner in Jamaica reported to the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations that “the official arrangements for the visit were considerably disrupted by the Rastafarians who believed the Emperor to be God.”
The visit was significant in many respects. First, this visit had a potent effect on the Rastafari Movement. As David Katz rightly put it, “If not for Selassie’s visit, the spread of Rastafari through reggae would probably never have taken place.” The visitation strengthened the Rastafari Movement to challenge the status quo and push for liberation of all Jamaicans. Selassie’s coming provided support and aided the movement.
Similarly, the visit had a tremendous effect on the musicians in Jamaica. From Rita Marley to Bob Marley, countless reggae musicians and dancehall proponents, the doctrine of freedom and faith that echoed in their beats gained popularity all over the world.
The Emperor’s reference to the common origins in Africa of Jamaicans and Ethiopians was well received. This is not an empty claim as the world recognized this fact and appreciated that with Bob Marley’s song “Selassie if the Chapel” and “Satisfy my Soul Jah Jah.”
Jamaica is widely believed to have a cultural and spiritual affinity to Africa, especially Ethiopia. A good number of Rastafarians live in Ethiopia today just as a good number of Ethiopians live in Jamaica.
Emperor Haile Selassie worked hard to build Ethiopia. For several decades, he championed the cause of the people of his country. Although he was iron-fisted, his love for Ethiopia and Africans as a whole cannot be questioned. His inability to address the famine and poverty ravaging his people greatly undermined his power and authority. He was forced out of office by the Marxist dictator Mengistu Haile Mariam in 1974.
Emperor Haile Selassie remains a political demigod many years after his death. While alive, he was indefatigable, “mighty”, and his assertiveness, as well as the radical transformation he championed in Ethiopia, can never be forgotten. Unlike the political leaders before him, he was more ambitious and cosmopolitan, which ultimately made him become the first Ethiopian leader to travel abroad, precisely to Europe. He led Ethiopia to join the League of Nations and later the United Nations. His exploits in African politics paid off as Addis Ababa was named the headquarters of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) – now known as the African Union (AU).
“This world was not created piecemeal. Africa was born no later and no earlier than any other geographical area on this globe. Africans, no more and no less than other men, possess all human attributes, talents and deficiencies, virtues and faults. ~ Haile Selassie”
Emperor Haile Selassie’s visit to Jamaica will continue to be referenced in the history of Jamaica. The visitation represents the “new birth” for the Rastafari Movement and the reggae “nation.”
No leader has visited Jamaica in the past and received the same ovation and attraction as “King Selassie,” not even Queen Elizabeth II in her majesty and glory. It is unlikely that any leader will attract same attention in the future.
“The black king and the redeemer” died several years ago, precisely in 1975, but his memory lingers not only in Ethiopia or Africa, but also in Jamaica, where he bestrode like a Colossus.
Source: Face to face Africa
The Ethiopian Herald April 25/2020
BY ZELALEM GIRMA
