• Foreign partners financing Sheger Riverside project
ADDIS ABABA- Office of the Prime Minister said over 900,000 internally displaced communities have returned to their homes. Office Press Secretariat Head Nugusu Tilahun told press conference yesterday that internal displacement has become a pressing challenge to the country.
Accordingly, the government has been doing its level best to redress the root causes the problems. Inter-ethnic conflict and violence continue to result in large scale displacements in different parts of the country. Millions of people have internally been displaced due to the violence. The issue of identity and boundary is also considered to be the main cause behind the tragic incidents, Nigusu noted.
“At the eve of the reform, millions of citizens were displaced from their homes, lives were lost and properties were also destroyed.” The government is taking three key steps to cope up with the problem, he stated. The first one is pre-caution and the second is responding to the problems after they have already happened, he underscored.
The government has been providing assistances to the communities in area where they were displaced and temporarily sheltered. In addition, the government in coordination with the concerned bodies or organizations has prepared the necessary requirements for the sustainable returns of citizens.
“It is also working to create conducive environment for those who have already been returned that they can live where they feel safely.” He stated that the issue of ensuring rule of law is the government’s priority agenda. Over 2,517 individuals suspected of having links with human right violations and displacements were identified with 1,300 people put in to custody.
Meanwhile, Nigusu also told journalists that foreign governments and organizations are contributing finance to the Sheger Riverside development project. Italy donated 5 million Euro while UNDP and UNIDO and African Development Bank contributing around one million dollar and 600,000 dollars respectively.
China also pledged to sponsor the design of the project. Over 200 individuals and organizations have shown their interest to support to the three-year initiated by Prime Minister Dr.Abiy Ahmed.
The Ethiopian Herald, May 10/2019
BY HAILE DEMEKE
