BY MENGISTEAB TESHOME
Following the peace agreement made between the Federal Government and TPLF, massive rehabilitation activities are undertaken by the government. Ranging from repairing damaged facilities and transmission lines to restoring basic services, as well as delivering humanitarian assistance to the people in need, a number of activities are ongoing.
As a result, over the past few weeks, owing to the government’s commitment and persistent efforts from respective offices, basic services such as power, telecom and internet have been restored in various towns including in Mekelle, Tigray State and the surrounding areas. Concurrent to the reconstruction activities, providing rehabilitation support to communities residing in conflict-affected areas is going smoothly though a lot has to be done for the reason that the scale and severity of the needs in the areas is more demanding and cannot be alleviated merely by government’s energy; but with the concerted intervention of all.
In an exclusive interview held with The Ethiopian Herald recently, the Ethiopia Diaspora Association (EDA) President Indris Mohammed confirmed that, the Association is working round the clock to backing government’s rehabilitation efforts through mobilizing resources.
According to him, the Association is ready to actively take part in the efforts exerted to rehabilitate the war affected population and reconstruction of socio-economic facilities damaged during the two –year conflict in the Northern part of Ethiopia through providing the community with financial and material support.
He said: “The EDA is pleased by the peace deal signed between the government and TPLF. We are hopeful that the agreement will come to fruition; the Association is committed to supporting the efforts along that line.”
According to him, the EDA has been denouncing a few groups who are trying to instigate unrest and chaos through social media and other platforms. “These individuals have been involved in such criminal activities because they have been making profit out of the war in Ethiopia.”
The Association is willing to replicate the best practices recording in terms of the Great Ethiopian Homecoming Challenge, law enforcement, Green Legacy Initiative as well as rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts of the nation in Afar and Amhara states.
Ethiopians deserve peace and prosperity; not conflict and instability, the President said adding that the leadership in the helm should strengthen rule of law and mobilize resources.
A case in point, a number of Diaspora communities are mobilizing resources to construct damaged health facilities in Welkait and those from Canada provided Bahir Dar and National Defense Force hospitals with 400 medical beds worth 30 to 35 million Birr through global aid Ethiopia along with Human Bridge.
“Many are joining hands and the EDA is working to strengthen further. We are communicating and encouraging members of the Ethiopian Diasporas hail from Tigray to take part in the rehabilitation effort, and many are responding positively, to extend support,” he added.
The EDA is keen to operate in Tigray State as soon as conducive opportunities are put in place, because it is our responsibility to rebuild Tigray, and the EDA calls on stakeholders and the Ethiopian Diaspora community to show solidarity to the reconstruction effort.
In the same token, the governments of Japan, Canada and Ireland have donated ten ambulances amounting to 24 million Birr or over 400,000 USD to Ethiopia’s four conflicts affected states with a view to assist nation’s effort for better healthcare services.
Speaking at the ambulance handover ceremony, UNFAP representative Suzanne Mandong said UNFPA purchased the ambulances using generous funding of the embassies of Japan, Canada and Ireland as part of supporting the national program.
The support is of significantly useful in saving lives, promoting sexual and reproductive health, as well as helping fight sexual and gender based violence. “The donated ambulances would be deployed to four conflict affected states such as Amhara, Tigray, Afar and Benishangul Gumuz,” she said.
Japan Ambassador to Ethiopia, Ito Takako also said that the health sector is one of Japan’s Government cooperation in Ethiopia and the former is keen to contribute to the Ethiopian people’s health and well-being especially in expanding gender sensitive services to tackle the problem.
Japan will continue providing assistance for the health sector in Ethiopia focusing on those in the most vulnerable situations and working together with the Ministry of Health and partner organizations including UNFPA, she said.
In response to the urgent and vast humanitarian needs, Japan will continue to assist conflict and drought affected regions in Ethiopia via the partnership with international organizations, she added. Ambassador of Canada to Ethiopia, Stephane Jobin also noted that access for survivors to services and access for the ambulances within their regions is a decisive step.
Ireland Ambassador to Ethiopia, Nicola Brennan said the provision of ambulances is a continuation of Ireland’s longstanding support to the health sector in partnership with UN agencies. Currently Ireland is supporting continuity of life saving health services including maternal health in conflict affected regions in Ethiopia.
Speaking at the occasion, Health Minister, Dr. Lia Tadesse said that the ambulance support is encouraging for the restoration of life saving service facility including maternal and new born babies in conflict affected regions and remote areas of the country.
“Ethiopia would like to recognize the support granted to it when the country has been at a critical time and needs too much resources in due course of restoring damaged health facilities across the nation in general and in conflict affected areas in particular,” she added.
The Ethiopian Herald December 15/ 2022
