#Ethiopia: “Over 112,000 people have been displaced by conflict in Ethiopia's #Afar region.

.#WFP together with #Afar regional & federal govt Ethiopia is delivering urgently needed food baskets of wheat, pulses & vegetable oil to families across five districts & has reached 30,000 people so far.”

Source: WFP Ethiopia

#Ethiopia: New Cases of COVID-19 Alarmingly Increasing

New cases of COVID-19 pandemic, has alarmingly been reported in Ethiopia over past few weeks, according to the Ethiopian Public Health Institute (EPHI).

In briefing journalists today EPHI Director-General, Dr. Tsigereda Kifle said there is risk of third wave outbreak in Ethiopia.

The Director has also urged the public to take stringent protection against the recently increasing COVID-19 pandemic.

The prevalence new COVID-19 infection that was 1.6 percent on average 6 weeks ago has now increased to 16.5 percent.

She added that the number of COVID-19 positive people seeking intensive care has increased from 180 to 602 over the last 7 months while the number of people who required mechanical ventilator rose from 11 out of 180 to 82.

Moreover, the number of new cases that had been 487 some 7 months ago has currently increased to 10,058 this week, she pointed out.
Thus, the Director General urged the public to take all the necessary preventive methods and avoid mass gatherings, especially during the Ethiopian New Year.

Speaking of the third wave (Delta Variant Circulation), Dr. Tsigereda stated that there are indicators but cannot be confirmed due to the absence of the required reagents.

She added that for confirmation of Delta Variant Circulation, samples have already been sent to other countries this week.

Source: ENA

#Ethiopia: The Emergency Coordination Center (ECC) Ministerial Committee held its regular weekly meeting.

The meeting discussed humanitarian assistance in the Afar and Amhara regions, the detailed performance of the relevant sector, special attention to areas of special need, the strengths and weaknesses of the process, and the launch of rehabilitation plan and other related issues.

It was indicated that teams of experts from Federal and Regional offices are deployed to the Afar and Amhara regions to facilitate the emergency operations.

The Chairperson of the Ministerial Committee, HE Ms. Muferihat Kamil, gave directions on the way forward.

Source: Ministry of Peace

#Ethiopia: Gumuz armed group killed Five militia in Metekel zone of Benishangul Gumuz region.

The head of the regional Peacebuilding and Security Bureau Abitot Alboro told the Ethiopian Insider that militias enroute from Dobi kebele to Bulan town in Three separate three-wheelers. The gunmen opened fire on the vehicles and killed Five people according to Abiyot.

A resident of Bulan woreda testified that two other people were injured in the attack. Another resident of the area said that the attack was preceded by the relocation of the Ethiopian National Defense Forces (ENDF) to Guba woreda. “Federal police and Sidama Special forces remained behind” the resident said, insisting that the attack was a result of the relocation of the military forces.

The head of the regional Peacebuilding and Security Bureau said “It may or maynot be the case. Defense forces routinely shift to other areas as necessary.” However, the residents of the area remain apprehensive after the departure of the ENDF.

https://ethiopiainsider.com/2021/4370/

In an interview with Ethiopian Broadcasting Corporation (EBC) that was aired yesterday, Sean Johnes, the USAID mission Director to Ethiopia discussed the status of humanitarian assistance the U.S. is providing to the country and said that forces loyal to the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) stole food aid and caused intentional damage to its warehouses in Amhara region. https://addisstandard.com/news-usaid-mission-director-says-tplf-stole-food-non-food-aid-hindered-humanitarian-operations-in-amhara-region/

#Ethiopia: Voter registration commenced in #Harari, #Somali, and #SNNP Regions.

The National Election Board of Ethiopia (NEBE) announced that it started Voter Registration for the election to be held on September 30, 2021, in Harari, Somali, and SNNP Regions. The registration will take place between September 1st and 10th.

On August 23 the NEBE announced that the election in Somali and Harari Regional States as well as the South West referendum will be held on September 30, Three weeks later than originally scheduled.

Source: NEBE

#Ethiopia: Oromia Trade Bureau took measures on 11,637 business enterprises

Oromia Trade Bureau announced that it has taken measures on 11,637 business institutions that have caused unnecessary cost of living by creating economic sabotages.

Head of the Trade Bureau, Denge Boru, said that the task force established in the region was able to assess 82 thousand business centers of which the Bureau took legal measures on 11,637 business enterprises.

Institutions that were involved in hiding products, raising prices and engaging in various illegal activities have been shut down. A total of 166 suspected offenders were prosecuted and 14 were sentenced to Six months to Two years in prison.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency (ENA)

#Ethiopia: #AU Representative for Horn of Africa, #USAID Administrator discuss, agree “on the urgency of granting humanitarian access to all"

The African Union's (AU) newly appointed Representative for the Horn of Africa, Olusegun Obasanjo, and USAID Administrator, Samantha Power, held a meeting where they discussed about humanitarian access amidst the "spiraling conflict" in Ethiopia.

In tweet, the top U.S. official, Ambassador Power, said that the two have "agreed on the urgency of granting humanitarian access to all now in need because of the spiraling conflict in Ethiopia."

The is the first meeting between the two following last week's appointment of Nigeria's former president as AU Horn of Africa Representative.

In corresponding statements, the United States States department and the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) complained of the worsening humanitarian situation in Tigray, blamed the delay in delivery of assistance on the Federal government and called for end of hostilities and unhindered, unfettered access to population in need. https://addisstandard.com/news-us-accuses-fed-govt-of-stalling-aid-access-into-tigray-ocha-says-access-hindered-due-to-bureaucratic-and-logistical-reasons-calls-for-unfettered-humanitarian-access/

#Ethiopia: Inter-Religious Council of Ethiopia (IRCE) calls for a five days nationwide prayer program

The Inter-Religious Council of Ethiopia (IRCE) has declared a five-day prayer program aimed at welcoming the Ethiopian New Year peacefully.

It is also stated that the prayer program will last from September 06 to 10, 2021.

The council in the press release for call for peace on the occasion of the New Year.

In the statement, the council called on citizens of different faiths to take part in special prayers for forgiveness and love to resolve the country's current problems.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency

The total number of humanitarians killed in Tigray since the outset of the conflict has climbed from 12 to 23 as reports of the murder of an additional 11 aid workers from the Relief Society of Tigray (REST, an NGO based in Tigray) have now emerged, in addition to the previously reported killing of their colleague Aman Desta Abay in Kola Tembien in May, a joint statement issued by the UN said.
https://addisstandard.com/news-alert-number-of-aid-workers-killed-in-tigray-climbs-to-23/

The Ethiopian Catholic Secretariat issued a statement today asking for corrections of erroneous communication surrounding widely reported news of the church suspending aid in the Tigray region following the escalation of fighting and tensions in the region. https://addisstandard.com/news-ethiopian-catholic-church-says-it-was-misquoted-as-saying-aid-activities-are-suspended-in-tigray/?preview=true&_thumbnail_id=22051

#Ethiopia: Alemayehu Eshete, the Ethiopian music legend since the 1960s, has passed way suddenly.

Alemayehu was a musician who had influenced Ethiopian households across the country especially with his song “Temar Lije” (study, my son), which features a father advising his son on the importance of education.

Known by his nick name “the Ethiopian Elvis”, he laves a legacy of a singer who had influenced his fans for more than 60 years.

Team Addis Standard extends its condolences to his family and fans.