The blockchain research and engineering company behind the fifth largest crypto by market value is working with Ethiopia’s Ministry of Education on developing a universal student credentialing system, set to launch in early autumn 2021.
https://addisstandard.com/innovation-heres-what-cardano-ada-has-been-up-to-with-the-ethiopia-project/?fbclid=IwAR3Bm35xcBjOAhb_9kGP5ati0AUuo6g9aLw2ZgxFQYXkINDe55AHIDNOMFk

According to the Ethiopian News Agency (ENA), DPM Demeke Mekonnen told the Special Envoy that the US should condemn TPLF’s attacks.

The Deputy Prime Minister emphasized on the role that attack on the Northern Command and the subsequent atrocities carried out by forces loyal to the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) have contributed to the current crisis. He added that TPLF is currently committing serious human violations, in both Afar and Amhara states.

He accused the US government of having chosen to remain silent as the TPLF committed all these crimes and betrayals. Demeke argued that USA’s silence is unusual and incompatible with the relationship between the two brotherly countries according to the report.

The state news agency reported that Special Envoy Jeffrey Feltman on his part said the US government understands the Ethiopian people’s views on the group/TPLF. He added that maintaining Ethiopia’s sovereignty, and ensuring its peace and unity remains a top foreign policy for the US government.
https://addisstandard.com/news-ethiopia-tells-us-special-envoy-to-the-region-to-condemn-tplf-special-envoy-says-peace-and-unity-in-ethiopia-remains-top-us-foreign-policy/

From 16 July to 15 August, 318 trucks with humanitarian supplies entered Tigray. This is a fraction of the required humanitarian cargo to meet the mounting needs.

Humanitarian operations are also severely affected by lack of stocks, cash, banking services, fuel and telecommunications. Transport of ICT equipment is still prohibited.
https://addisstandard.com/news-a-fraction-of-required-humanitarian-cargo-entering-tigray-whereas-air-service-for-staff-rotation-improved-un/

Ambassador Dina Mufti, the Spokesperson of the Ministry Foreign Affairs (MoFA), gave the ministry’s biweekly press briefing today, August 18, 2021 to local and international media where he discussed top political, economic and citizen-centered diplomacy agendas.https://addisstandard.com/news-ethiopian-diplomacy-in-good-shape-says-amb-dina-mufti-in-bi-weekly-press-briefing/

Today the Federal High Court, Lideta Branch, First Constitutional and Anti-Terrorism Bench reject the bail application of 21 top TPLF leaders who are under federal police custody. https://addisstandard.com/news-fed-court-denies-bail-request-to-jailed-tplf-senior-officials-orders-arrest-of-defendants-at-large/

#Ethiopia: #Russia says "declaring truce the only way to end the bloodshed and improve the humanitarian situation" in Ethiopia

"We are following developments in Ethiopia, where clashes between the government army and the Tigray People's Liberation Front have become more frequent," said a statement attributed to Maria Zakharova, Spokeswoman of the Russian Foreign Ministry.
"Both sides declaring a truce is the only way to end the bloodshed and improve the humanitarian situation," the statement,, issued on the official Twitter account of the Ministry, said.
https://twitter.com/mfa_russia/status/1428372697612967936...
Picture: Russian MoFA

" Now is the time to put an end to the suffering, " António Guterres
The Secretary General of the UN, "calls for an immediate cessation of hostilities in the country, unrestricted humanitarian access, and the creation of conditions to launch an Ethiopian-led political dialogue,"
Source: The United Nations Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (DPPA)

The Administrator of The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Samantha Power, in a statement released yesterday, discussing the humanitarian situation in Ethiopia, urged forces loyal to the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) to halt its hostilities in neighboring regions, Amhara regional government as well as the Eritrean government to withdraw from Tigray region. She also called for all parties to the conflict to secure humanitarian corridors and ensure the safety of aid workers.

The statement discussed the humanitarian situation in the Tigray region. It read, “In Tigray, where hundreds of thousands are facing famine, food warehouses are virtually empty. This week, for the first time in nine months of conflict, aid workers will run out of food to distribute to the millions of people who are going hungry. USAID and its partners as well as other humanitarian organizations have depleted their stores of food items warehoused in Tigray.”
https://addisstandard.com/news-two-days-after-visit-by-special-envoy-to-the-horn-of-africa-usaid-chief-reiterate-call-to-end-hostilities-start-dialogue/

#Ethiopian #Israeli Women Suffer Racism, Discrimination at Work, Study Finds
'I was certain I was coming to someone non-Ethiopian,' an Ethiopian dental hygienist recalls one of her patients telling her. Many of the women are met with prejudice, racism, discrimination and mistrust on the part of Israeli employers.
The integration of Ethiopian Israeli women into the job market faces multiple obstacles, the study concluded. Many of the women's entry point is already low – they suffer from educational inequality and thus acquire fewer occupational skills. Moreover, they are less acquainted with the job market, and their social networks are less likely to affect their hiring.

https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-ethiopian-israeli-women-suffer-racism-discrimination-at-work-study-finds-1.10127230?fbclid=IwAR2E580BYYdoSC3imesgIfUSPV-YegZgN6MfsQPG5aUjloGupYzo9UmsFgc

Very Heavy Rainfall Forecasted in Northern #Ethiopia, Western #Eritrea, and Eastern #Sudan

IGAD Climate Prediction and Applications Center (ICPAC) forecasted that heavy to very heavy rainfall is expected over parts of northern Ethiopia, western Eritrea, and eastern Sudan over the next one week.

According to a press release, heavy to very heavy rainfall (top 10 to 5 percent on record) is expected in regions of Al Qadarif and Sennar in Sudan, Gash-Barka and Debu in Eritrea, and parts of Tigray, western Amhara, and southern Afar.

It added that total rainfall above 100mm is forecasted in these regions.
While, moderate rainfall between 50-100mm is expected over southern Sudan, western South Sudan, parts of central to north-eastern Uganda, few areas in western Kenya, and much of western and northern Ethiopia into western Eritrea.

Light rainfall less than 30mm is expected over parts of northern and southern Somalia, western Kenya, parts of western Rwanda, much of Uganda, eastern South Sudan, southern Sudan, and eastern Ethiopia.

On the other hand, dry conditions are expected in northern Sudan, eastern and northern Kenya, western and southern Tanzania.

ICPAC urged authorities and the public in these areas to take appropriate measures to protect lives and livelihoods.
Source: ENA

#Ethiopia: UK's Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) advise against all travel to #Tigray, areas in #Amhara, #Afar, #Oromia, #Somali #Gambella,#Benishangul_Gumuz and bordering areas with #Sudan, #South Sudan, #Somalia and #Kenya

The whole of Tigray regional state and within 30km of its borders with Amhara and Afar regional states

The FCDO advise against all but essential travel to areas of Afar region within 10 km of the border with Eritrea, with the exception of tourist sites close to the main roads and open border crossings with Eritrea and the main roads to these border crossings
"Elections took place in Ethiopia on 21 June.
Further elections will take place in some regions in September. Historically, there has been an increase in demonstrations and localised violence around elections. You should avoid large gatherings and monitor local media for updates."
https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/ethiopia