addisstandard Just tweeted ********************************************** #Ethiopia: Food,Medicine &Health Care Administration & Control authority, along with fed. Police, Customs, & the local community, has confiscated counterfeit medicine worth 4,214,175 br ($150, 000+) from 4 pharmacies in #Moyale city, #Oromia regional state https://t.co/tuEe0jENJW https://t.co/F2kjcEpCRw

addisstandard Just tweeted ********************************************** #Kenya: Sh47m Equity cash robbery probe extends to #Ethiopia https://t.co/DjCSkTyvpF "Search for Sh47 million stolen from Equity Bank during last week’s plane heist at Odda Airstrip in #Moyale, #Marsabit, is expected to extend to Ethiopia." via @BD_Africa

addisstandard Just tweeted ********************************************** Floods: Over 1,000 people displaced in #Moyale https://t.co/H9kDE1KFr6 Marsabit Governor Mohamud Ali said county disaster management team and humanitarian organisations could not reach the affected families since most of the roads are impassable.

addisstandard Just tweeted ********************************************** #Kenya #Ethiopia:Diplomatic sources told AS there was a minor exchange of fire b/n local militia & KDF in #Moyale over the digging of trenches to block movmnts in th fight against #COVID19.Tension rose after 1 person was injured. Elders meeting local militia today to ease tension

addisstandard Just tweeted ********************************************** #Ethiopia:2 more people tested +ve for #COVID19 out of 912 lab tests in the last 24 hrs,bringing the total confirmed # to 133. They are 25 & 20 yo 🇪🇹n men with travel history from #Kenya & #Puntland & in quarantine centers in border town #Moyale & in #Jigjiga univ. respectively. https://t.co/iPMGxhWzAj

addisstandard Just tweeted ********************************************** #Ethiopia: Struggling to restart life: The story of Seke Anbessa, an IDP woman from #Moyale https://t.co/KxGbpIJ3rx Seke recalls those challenging days like this: “we had no water, we barely had enough food to feed the family and we had no spare cloth to wear.” https://t.co/qVpMT0Ty8d

#Kenya-#Ethiopia border smugglers hiding drugs inside animals

Livestock transporters on Kenya’s #Moyale-#Nairobi highway are using animals to smuggle bhang from #Shashamane in Ethiopia into the country, it has been revealed.

The transporters are reportedly smuggling the drugs by putting them inside the animals or in panels placed underneath their lorries.

This was revealed at the start of a stakeholders consultative meeting at the Kenya Institute for Curriculum Development in Nairobi attended by, among others, Kenya's Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo, National Authority for the Campaign Against Drugs and Substance Abuse (Nacada) boss Victor Okioma and Inspector-General of Police Japhet Koome.

https://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/tea/news/east-africa/kenya-ethiopia-border-smugglers-hiding-drugs-inside-animals-4055808

#Ethiopia: In the face of #drought, a roof over our heads is one less problem

In #Oromia, tucked in the southern region of Ethiopia, 63-year-old Boneya watches as his children play with toys crafted from dried leaves and sticks.

“I can’t believe we’ve been here for three years now. This is the life my children know,” he says.

Seven years ago, his hometown of #Moyale, close to the #Kenyan border, was engulfed in intercommunal conflict, pushing them to flee some 37 kilometers into Oromia. Since then, they have been living in a makeshift tent they constructed using local materials.

Being displaced had its challenges, but this worsened for the father of 13 since the drought hit the region. More than half a million people were displaced by what is now the worst drought to ever hit the country in the past 40 years.

https://storyteller.iom.int/stories/face-drought-roof-over-our-heads-one-less-problem

#Ethiopia: As drought catastrophe looms, many succumbing to death in #Somali region; official admits, cites “beyond capacity” but refutes death toll

By Medihane Ekubamichael & Biruk Alemu

#Moyale - Internally Displaced Peoples (IDPs) from various woredas of Dawa zone, one of the severely hit zones by drought in the Somali region, who are sheltering in two IDP camps in Moyale woreda, told Addis Standard that more than eighteen people have died due to the drought in recent days. Disturbing stories are emerging about people forced to feed on unusual items. Officials of the woreda admitted the severity of that the situation and said it is “beyond their capacity.”

During #AddisStandard’s visit at #Harbor IDP camp in #Meleb kebele near Moyale, victims of the drought keenly rush to visitors, hoping to meet with volunteers who brought in aid, but end up desperately pleading for help to arrive.

This is their story from the ground.

https://addisstandard.com/analysis-as-catastrophe-looms-many-succumbing-to-death-in-somali-region-official-admits-cites-beyond-capacity-but-refutes-death-toll/

News: New cross-border #Cholera outbreak kills five in #Moyale town, vicinity areas

By Medihane Ekubamichael

A new cholera outbreak since the last two weeks has so far claimed the lives of five people in Moyale town, in the Ethio-#Kenyan border.

Borena Zone, Moyale town Health Office Head, Boru Huka confirmed to #AddisStandard the death of the five people from the outbreak so far; two of them died in the Cholera Treatment Center (CTC) at Moyale town, while the three others were reported to have died dead before reaching the CTC.

According to Boru, the case has been rising with up 15 cases per day. The number of confirmed cases has now reached of 50 and the patients are receiving isolated treatment at the CTC.

Abdireshid Ibrahim Aden, #Dawa zone disaster risk management coordinator from the #Somali region side, however told #Addis_Standard that they are waiting for the confirmation of the cases from samples sent to Hawassa, and that there was death report yet. The zone shares Moyale town as administrative seat with #Oromia region’s Borena zone.

https://addisstandard.com/news-new-cross-boundary-cholera-outbreak-kills-five-in-moyale-border-town-vicinity-areas/

In-depth: Flooding, Cholera ravage drought victims in #Somali region, damaged roads disconnect vulnerable IDPs

By Medihane Ekubamichael & Biruk Alemu

#Moyale/#AddisAbeba- Multilayered challenges test the limits of people in Somali, as predicaments of prolonged drought followed by sudden flooding that is accompanied by Cholera have become detrimental to the lives and livelihoods of the mostly pastoralist community in #Dawa zone of the Somali region, south-eastern #Ethiopia.

The scorching heat and dry environment in the drought-ravaged areas suddenly turned into a mess show of flooding from the continuously advancing rain that came in March after five consecutive years of absence.

Rubbing salt to the wound, the disfunctioning, rain-sensitive roads are hindering the barely available aid from reaching those in desperate need.

According to Bashir Arab, early warning coordinator at the regional Disaster and Risk Management Bureau, detriments of the flood that was caused by overflowing of rivers or rush of flush flooding have wildly affected the #Dawa, #Afder, #Shebelle and some areas of #Erer zones hindering movement of vehicles at regional level.

“The casualty recorded so far has reached 34 people, including those who were killed from vehicles that drowned in the flood.”

https://addisstandard.com/in-depth-flooding-cholera-ravage-drought-victims-in-somali-region-damaged-roads-disconnect-vulnerable-idps/

#Kenya, #Ethiopia revive hopes of #Lapsset with talk of new railway

“We are currently working on the development of the railway line from #Lamu to #Moyale through #Isiolo with a link from Isiolo to #Nairobi to connect with the #Mombasa-#Nairobi-#Malaba SGR,” Murkomen said.

The move meant Nairobi had, in one month, reached out to two of its neighbors to extend the SGR to their territories from next year.

Last month, #Kenya and #Uganda agreed to extend the SGR from Naivasha to Kampala. They, too, agreed on a joint search for financiers, with each side footing the logistical bill on its territory.

For Lapsset, Kenya had pushed this path before.

https://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/tea/business/kenya-ethiopia-revive-hopes-of-lapsset-4340586

49 #Ethiopian nationals nabbed in #Nairobi while being smuggled to South Africa

A group of 49 Ethiopian nationals was recently apprehended in two estates in Nairobi as they attempted to be smuggled to #South_Africa. The first group of 31 individuals was discovered in a house in #Komarock while waiting for their smuggler to transport them. Security agencies express concern about the increasing number of Ethiopians being caught in various parts of the country while en route to other destinations. Most of those arrested lack proper immigration documents, causing some stations to hold them for extended periods.

Officials are calling for urgent action to address this issue, as many immigrants are defrauded and subjected to appalling living conditions as they await transportation. The latest group, consisting of individuals aged between 14 and 45, was apprehended in two separate locations. They are currently being held at Kayole police station.

These recent arrests are part of an ongoing trend involving Ethiopian migrants. Many of them use the #Moyale route to enter #Kenya and then attempt to travel to South Africa or the Middle East.

https://www.the-star.co.ke/counties/nairobi/2023-11-05-49-ethiopians-arrested-in-nairobi-heading-to-s-africa/

Police arrest 5 #Ethiopian miners at closed gold mine site in #Moyale, #Kenya

Five miners, all Ethiopian nationals including two women, were arrested on Sunday evening at a gold mine site in Dabale, Moyale, Marsabit County that had been closed and mining activities banned there. The arrests were made by police officers patrolling the Hilo Mining site.

Four generators, a grinder, two drilling machines, a rope, a bucket, and other excavation tools were recovered from the suspects. They were detained at the Moyale police station and are set to face charges of contravening the Public Order Act, illegal mining, and being in Kenya illegally.

Last week, five other miners were arrested at an illegal gold mining site in Merti, Isiolo County, where an AK47 rifle with five bullets was also recovered during the operation.


https://www.the-star.co.ke/news/realtime/2024-03-25-police-arrest-5-ethiopian-miners-at-closed-gold-mine-in-moyale/

#Ethiopian nationals arrested en route to closed gold mining site in #Moyale, #Kenya

Seven Ethiopian nationals were arrested by the police on accusations of attempting to access a gold mining site that had been closed in Moyale, Marsabit County, near the Kenya-Ethiopian border. The arrest occurred while a police team was patrolling the Moyale-Dabel road.

This incident followed the arrest of five miners at the same gold mine site the day before. The initial group, consisting of Ethiopians, including two women, was detained by police officers. Among the items seized were four generators, a grinder, two drilling machines, a rope, a bucket, and various other excavation tools.

The detainees were held at the Moyale police station awaiting formal charges for engaging in illegal mining activities and being present in Kenya without legal authorization.

Read more at: https://twitter.com/addisstandard/status/1772947110377161197

Porous #Kenya-#Ethiopia border threatens donkey populations

The porous border between Kenya and Ethiopia is facilitating illegal cross-border movement of donkeys, jeopardizing the animals' welfare in both nations. Veterinary experts and animal welfare advocates have raised alarms about this issue, which could fuel the unethical donkey skin trade.

In the border town of #Moyale, residents heavily rely on donkeys for water vending and transportation. However, reports indicate a surge in unlawful donkey trafficking across the border over recent months, with lorries transporting thousands of the animals to undisclosed locations.

Hassan Guyo from the Marsabit County Department of Livestock and Veterinary Services acknowledged the spike in illegal donkey movements. He stated that while #African leaders banned donkey slaughter in February 2024, legal gaps enable traders to exploit the situation by transporting the animals, potentially for clandestine slaughter operations.

Veterinarians from the African Network of Animal Welfare (#ANAW), collaborating with county authorities, have been conducting mass vaccinations and educating locals on enhancing donkey security measures. Nonetheless, they emphasize the necessity for stricter regulations, improved identification methods, and traceability systems to curb donkey theft and safeguard the region's donkey populations.

https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/north-eastern/article/2001492836/porous-moyale-border-point-poses-a-threat-to-kenyan-and-ethiopian-donkey-populations