BY MENGISTEAB TESHOME
The scar of the war in the northern part of Ethiopia was deep because innocent civilians from Tigray, Amhara and Afar states were exposed to displacements, and killings and service rendering facilities and properties damaged.
For instance, the Ministry of Health reported that 3,666 health institutions in the affected areas of Amhara, Afar, Oromia and Benishangul-Gumuz states had been partially or fully damaged. According to the Ministry, 40 hospitals, 452 health stations and 1,728 health posts in Amhara; 2 hospitals, 24 health centers and 52 health posts in Afar; 6 hospitals, 21 health centers and 978 health posts in Oromia states as well as 15 health centers and 348 health posts in Benishangul-Gumuz had been affected by the conflict.
However, following the commitments and efforts of the government, various ministries and sector offices, states’ bureaus, partners and individuals, the reconstruction activities of damaged facilities and infrastructure are ongoing well though a lot remains.
Currently, numerous governmental and non-governmental organizations, charity organizations, donors and the like are providing support and are playing role in the effort exerted to restore and rehabilitate the facilities.
Most importantly, owing to the peace agreement made between the Federal Government and Tigay People Liberation Front (TPLF) the international community is seeing the efforts in good gesture and confirming to support the reconstruction and rehabilitating activities of education and health facilities.
For instance, EU Delegation Head to Ethiopia, Ambassador Roland Kobia inked the grant contract agreement with UNICEF Representative in Ethiopia Gianfranco Rotigliano and WFP Ethiopia Country Director and Representative Claude Libidar to restore education services in conflict-affected regions and implement school feeding program in the areas.
During the signing event, EU Delegation Head to Ethiopia, Ambassador Roland said that the contract signed between the EU and UN bodies will benefit Ethiopia’s education system in an integrated manner and essentially benefit the children in conflict-affected areas of the country.
“This contract is at a level of 1.8 billion Birr, so it is about 33 million Euros. The grant will be used to restore education facilities and provide essential services for children living in conflict-affected areas. This contract is going to benefit the education system in an integrated manner. We are going to provide not only education; but also ensuring access to potable water, school feeding, water and sanitation services, reconstruction and rehabilitation of infrastructure and so forth,” Roland said.
Children are always innocent victims in all areas. Wherever war outbreaks, their lives disrupted and they compelled to interrupt their education. He stated that this funding will strengthen the education system in an integrated manner through the provision of education, health, protection, school feeding, WASH and the reconstruction and rehabilitation of schools.
Children’s safe access to quality education is critical to the future of the country, he added.
UNICEF Representative in Ethiopia, Gianfranco Rotigliano said that the education component implemented by UNICEF, will include the rehabilitation of schools, reduce rates of school dropouts and also scale-up the ‘My Home-Bete’ approach.
“We are deeply grateful for this generous contribution from the EU,” he said, adding that the ‘My Home-Bete’ program combines accelerated learning, child protection and life skills training in schools.
He pointed out that providing services to children, especially girls, to recover from the trauma they have endured due to conflict and also teach life skills so they can become our future doctors, teachers and leaders.
“This is very welcome not only because with this fund we can restore and rehabilitate some of the schools but also we can put the children back into schools with the aid of WFP for the reason when there is a meal for children in schools, children come to school much more happily and they keep coming because (there is a reason) beyond the fact that they learn and they become (educated) citizens, there is also the good reason that they eat.”
The funding will also support WFP to provide nutritious school meals to 50,000 children across northern Ethiopia.
WFP’s school meals will ensure that conflict-affected school-age girls and boys (including IDPs) continue to receive access to food, and this, in turn, will attract children to enroll in school and continue their education.
WFP Ethiopia Country Director and Representative, Claude Libidar on his part said “I appreciate the EU’s timely contribution to WFP’s school meals to keep children, especially girls, in school, who have been affected by the conflict.”
Overall, this support will benefit nearly 80,000 children and 60 schools will be reconstructed or rehabilitated.
In his recent remark, Justice Minister Gedeon Timothios also noted that Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) operating in Ethiopia should play leading role in providing the necessary support for the government to rebuild the war affected areas in the country.
The minister, who is also a member of the Main Peace Alternative Committee of the Federal Government, while briefing members of the CSOs about the peace agreement signed in South Africa between the Government of Ethiopia and TPLF as well as its outcomes and implications, he stressed the need for the civil organizations to play a leading role in providing the necessary support to the government, particularly in healing the psychological trauma incurred on citizens and to rehabilitate the war affected areas.
Creating conducive environment to rehabilitate communities affected by the conflict and reverse the challenges the country has encountered in economy and diplomacy were also among the goals of the peace talks.
Noting the commitment of the government for the full implementation of the peace agreement, the minister stated that several activities, including the delivery of humanitarian aid and restoration of social services, have been intensified by the government.
He urged the Civil Society Organizations to engage in the rebuilding activities of education institutions, health facilities and other public service providing facilities by mobilizing resources. With concerted efforts and collaboration of stakeholders and partners, however, 85 percent of the hospitals and 87 percent of the damaged health stations were restored and are providing services for the public, he stated.
The Ministry of Health also urged stakeholders and partners to strengthen effort and collaboration to restore damaged health stations and provide services for the public.
The restored health institutions have so far provided health services for 500,000 people, adding that the ministry has provided 708 million Birr worth pharmaceuticals and medical equipment to the conflict affected areas since July 2021.
Federal hospitals, hospitals under Addis Ababa Health Bureau and university hospitals have also donated pharmaceuticals and medical equipment estimated at over 208 million Birr, and the Diaspora contributed over 70 million Birr worth medical equipment, it was learnt.
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD FRIDAY 25 NOVEMBER 2022
