Killings, abductions, funding shortfalls stifle WFP relief efforts across Ethiopia!

 

Killings, abductions, funding shortfalls stifle WFP relief efforts across Ethiopia!

Eight personnel dead as org. takes USD 30mln loan to sustain operations

The World Food Program says security concerns are straining its ability to deliver crucial aid assistance in Ethiopia as no less than eight humanitarian workers lost their lives to violence over the past year, while a further 20 were the victims of abductions.

Zlatan Milišić, WFP country director in Ethiopia, told The Reporter that seeing through humanitarian assistance programs and deliveries has grown increasingly challenging for the United Nations agency.

“Security challenges are often linked to banditry or robbery on the road by unidentified armed groups. They pose risks, threats, and challenges for us,” he said.

The movements of the world’s largest humanitarian organization are being deeply affected by protracted conflicts and security threats in Oromia, Gambella, Somali, parts of Tigray, and Afar, as well as by the silent battles going on between armed groups and government forces in the Amhara region, according to the Director.

“It’s difficult logistically and it’s difficult security-wise,” he said. “There are issues particularly in the Amhara Regional State.”

During a sit down with The Reporter, Milišić praised his staff for prevailing against the life-threatening challenges while drawing attention to what he says is an increasingly difficult and worrisome work environment.

Ensuring the safety and security of the staff, partners, contractors and cargo have become the organization’s top priority as the WFP finds itself walking a tightrope in its attempt to deliver life-saving assistance to target populations while keeping its personnel out of harm’s way.

“If we send our convoy and one, two, or five of our trucks get offloaded by people with guns, that’s a problem,” said Milišić. “We can resolve it once, but if it happens again and again, you start questioning what assurances we have sending this. Our donors start asking why we are sending food to areas where we get robbed. But not sending food isn’t an option because people are going to be hungry.”

A chronic shortfall in support from traditional donors has forced the WFP wing operating in Ethiopia to take a loan of USD 30 million from its global umbrella contingencies fund.

“If we didn’t take that loan, we would have fully stopped some of our programs by September and we would have zero food by now,” said Milišić.

The Director noted concerns that WFP Ethiopia’s once stellar reputation for resilience, livelihoods, nutrition, and school feeding programs has dwindled over the past couple of years.

“If one wishes to do more of these works, which we are strong at and for which the potential exists, it can be done. But a lack of resources and some of the traditional donors focusing on humanitarian assistance is not allowing us to do more. We cut numbers there as well,” he said.

Despite the threats, abductions, and killings, WFP Ethiopia claims it has managed to meet 90 percent of its goal in reaching people in need.

Ethiopia : Dialogue Commission wants gov’t to create “enabling condition

 

Professor Mesfin Araya, Chief of the Dialogue Commission (Photo credit : DW Amharic)

The National Dialogue Commission on Thursday presented its performance report to the parliament. 

Unusual about it was that this meeting took place in a hotel, not at the parliament building. The practice of using hotels for public events has become very common in the past few years. In fact, the hotel that the National Dialogue Committee used on Friday – Skylight Hotel – government owned. 

Chair of the Commission, Professor Mesfin Araya, highlighted what the commission has been doing over the past one year. It was said identification of participants and agenda item collection work has been completed except in Amhara and Tigray regions. 

He described the process as “tiresome, resource consuming and exemplary with which many things can be accomplished.” Regarding the time needed to the process, he said that “We[commissioners?] have understood that it is not something that can be done hastily.” 

The Chief Commissioner also talked about the challenges that the commission has been experiencing in the course of its work. Ongoing conflict (in the Amhara region) and questions about the neutrality of the commission are among them.  

He mentioned that there are political organizations and other entities that withdraw from the process on grounds of neutrality. Major Ethiopian political parties withdraw from the process expressing concern that the ruling party has influence and lack of inclusiveness in the process.  

Oromo Federalist Congress, EPRP and Enat Party – are some of the major parties that withdrew from the process.  Opposition voices allege that participant identification is dominated by the ruling party cadres. When the commission completes its work, it will be the parliament that will approve it but over 95 percent of the parliamentarians are from the ruling party meaning the ruling power has the power to accept or reject the findings and/recommendations of the Dialogue Commissions.  But the commissioner says six parties that withdrew from the process signed an agreement with the commission in the past three weeks.  

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed attended the opening event of agenda collection event in Addis Ababa earlier this month and he said “there will be no transitional government in Ethiopia any more.” Many understood that even if the National Dialogue recommends the formation of the transitional government, the ruling party will not accept it. 

The Chief Commissioner emphasized the need on the part of the government to create enabling conditions. 

“If this dialogue is to be correctly a success, again I ask this government in the name of my commissioners the question to create enabling conditions. I will ask the same question in the future too,” he said. 

With key players from opposition and civic organizations outside of the process, there is noticeable  skepticism if the commission would resolve Ethiopia’s problem. Some argue, a desirable outcome can come from a process that is not inclusive enough and one that is dominated by the ruling party. Abiy Ahmed has been warning, the national dialogue is “Ethiopia’s chance. Let us use it.”   

Source: https://borkena.com/2024/06/29/ethiopia-dialogue-commission-wants-govt-to-create-enabling-condition/

Struggles of High-Rise Living

 Located on the western outskirts of AddisAbaba, the Asko 40/60 condominium towers stand tall, promising a modern lifestyle but delivering a daily ordeal for its residents. Among them is Melat Kasa, a pregnant mother of two young children aged 4 and 6, who lives on the 13th floor. “I’ve been living here for over a year now,” she shares with a weary sigh. “Navigating up and down has become a nightmare. I only venture down once a month for my check-ups, but even that is a daunting task.”

Bahir Dar

Melat’s concerns extend beyond her own struggles. Residents experience the inconvenience of navigating multiple flights of stairs to access their living quarters, with some residences situated as high as the fourteenth level. The absence of essential amenities, specifically the elevator and water supply, has had a profoundly negative impact on the residents, severely limiting their options and compromising their quality of life.

 “I restrict my children from leaving the confines of our home, not even to the balcony, due to the perilous gap left for the elevator. The space is too hazardous, causing us great anxiety, even for adults,” Melat said. She vividly describes the physical and emotional toll of carrying her children up and down the stairs, emphasizing the sheer exhaustion they face on their return journey.

The 40/60 housing program aimed at constructing high rise condominium buildings. Yet, four years after the lottery draw, residents who have lived there for over three years still find themselves without functional elevators.

In 2017, the city administration planed to acquire 500 elevators for its 18-storey towers, launching an international competitive bidding process. The move came on the heels of a decision to scrap a similar tender for 302 elevators intended for condominium projects under the 20/80 and 10/90 housing schemes. However, the bid was similarly cancelled.

Despite moving into incomplete buildings, residents have attempted to make their units livable. However, persistent issues with electricity, water supply, and, most critically, the elevators, plague their daily lives. Years of requests have yielded no results, leaving the elevators non-functional and the residents in turmoil.

This predicament has forced some residents to abandon their homes. “We have to pay laborers to carry groceries and other essentials,” one resident laments. “It costs up to 30 birr just to transport a 5-liter container of water.” The frustration is palpable as residents question if they could install the elevators themselves.

Abebe Dinku (Prof.), an expert in construction technology at Addis Ababa University, offers a stark reality check. “It is nearly impossible to install elevators in these condominium houses for various reasons,” he explains. “The cost is extremely high, and only the company that provides the elevators can carry out the installation.”

A glimmer of hope emerged when residents contacted the elevator company. However, they were met with a harsh truth: the company had not been paid by the Housing Development Corporation. Residents said that they have contacted the Addis Ababa Housing Development and Administration Bureau. According to them, Shimeles Tamirat, the director at the Bureau, revealed financial difficulties and banking issues for the delay. Although he claimed to have resolved these issues six months ago, no tangible action has followed.

For Abebe the issue is more complex than it appears. “Imports require a Letter of Credit (LC), but the government faces a shortage of hard currency and lift budget. It is known that society is suffering.”

The Asko site, consisting of 13 high-rise buildings, was meant to be a sight of progress. Instead, it has become a symbol of unfulfilled promises. Pregnant women, children, the elderly, and patients are all trapped in a daily struggle. Some buildings, started but never completed, stand as silent witnesses to structural inadequacies and bureaucratic inertia.

As the city aspires to modernity, its residents of remain caught in a web of challenges. Their voices, bellow through the stairwells of these towering buildings, calling for solutions and a return to the promise of a better life.

Marta Jemal, a resident living on the 12th floor, shared her daily struggles with The Reporter: “It’s been a year since I moved in. I have three young children who rarely go out or play because it is difficult to carry them up and down the stairs. Even when they get sick, I have to pay 100 birr to have someone help me carry them.”

In the absence of elevators, lifting goods and household materials to higher floors has turned into a bustling side hustle. Though lucrative for Zewde Jenbre, a daily laborer who has been working in the community for a while, he says the back and forth is extremely challenging.

“Residents call me more than 20 times a day to lift goods and groceries, sometimes up to 15 times daily. We’ve adopted this routine, making between 200 to 300 birr daily. However, it can be challenging going back and forth multiple times carrying stuff. Sometimes we even lift items for free, especially for elders.”

Debritu Gamo, a 62-year-old woman living on the 8th floor, echoed the sentiment: “As an elderly woman who lives alone, it is challenging for me to go up and down without the elevator.”

There is a noticeable level of discontent among the residents, particularly those occupying the 11th floor and above, which account for 110 households in each building. “We urge the housing development corporation to address this matter urgently,” they said in unison.

Another resident from the 12th floor voiced her concerns: “It’s been two years since I moved here. I have two kids, aged 7 and 8, who struggle with going up and down for school. It’s so hard for our children and the elderly. Even our family members find it difficult to visit. They have been promising to fix the problem since we arrived, but nothing has ever happened.”

Despite the substantial financial investments made by numerous individuals in procuring these residences, many are currently deliberating on their subsequent course of action.

In 2019, the government unveiled significant updates to its condominium housing program, including adjustments to pricing and the lottery system. The changes aimed to address the rising construction costs and ensure a fair and transparent allocation of housing units.

Among the new measures was a notable price hike of close to 48 percent per square meter, with one-bedroom units now costing 4,918 birr, up from the original price of 3,333 birr. Additionally, the 100 percent deposit privilege was also eliminated.

“Back in 2011, the price range for units was between 600,000 and 705,000 birr. It seemed like a reasonable investment at the time,” a resident who wanted anonymity said, reminiscing about the early days.

“I paid 605,000 birr for my two-bedroom condo. It felt like a dream come true back then, but now, with the elevator issues, it’s more of a nightmare,” another resident on the 10th floor laments.

Despite three years passing, no significant progress has been made. The elevator equipment has been sitting idle on-site for over two years. They claim the delay is due to contract administration issues and financial problems. Moreover, the elevator equipment is not secure, with some components stolen and others deteriorating due to exposure to the elements. Despite residents’ efforts to safeguard them, the situation remains unresolved.

“In 2012, I bought a unit on the 12th floor from a private seller for 3.8 million birr. We have two children and my wife is currently pregnant. The daily struggle is taking a toll on us, especially on my wife who has to navigate these stairs every day just to get to work and back.”

Amare Merga, a security guard at the condominium compound, said: “I’ve been here for a long time and have witnessed the residents’ suffering. I used to help an elderly lady who lived on the seventh floor, but she has now moved away. I’ve seen people leave because of the elevator issues. Some residents have rented out their units, while others have sold them. We often assist them in carrying their belongings.”

Abebe (Prof.) emphasized the gravity of the situation: “This issue needs resolution. Society is suffering, and it is becoming very difficult for the elderly and children. Designing and selecting an elevator involves meticulous planning and coordination. Some 40/60 condominiums lack electricity, necessitating generator provision despite not requiring continuous power for elevator operation.”

“Even with 24-hour power, a generator is necessary,” he remarked. “These large government projects lack reliable electricity and standby generators, indicating poor planning.

A representative of the condominium committee says that they have been inundated with complaints from residents regarding the infrastructure, and they are making efforts to reach out to the housing development corporation in search of a solution.

Source: https://www.thereporterethiopia.com/40816/

TPLF regains political legitimacy with Justice Ministry’s blessing

 

NewsTPLF regains political legitimacy with Justice Ministry’s blessing

The Ministry of Justice has granted the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) the green light to register with the National Election Board of Ethiopia (NEBE) as a political party.

Heads of the NEBE were informed of the decision in a letter dated June 24, 2024, reversing an earlier decision to revoke the party’s legal status in January 2021 due to its involvement in the northern war.

Justice officials say they would like the Board to cooperate in re-registering TPLF as a political party following amendments to electoral laws and the party’s commitment to non-violence and adherence to the constitutional democratic system.

“The Ministry of Justice requests the Ethiopian Election Board to cooperate in re-registering the political party as a legal entity, with the party having agreed to abandon its use of violence and operate within the constitutional democratic framework,” reads the letter.

Reports of TPLF regaining its legal status first emerged earlier this month after Parliament ratified legislation that would allow the party to register again with the NEBE. The amendment to the ‘Electoral, Political Parties’ Registration, and Electoral Ethics Proclamation’ included a provision enabling political parties accused of “violently and illegally operating” to register under “special conditions.”

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TPLF, which led the northern region into conflict with the federal government in late 2020, was designated a terrorist group through a unanimous vote by Parliament in May 2021. OLF-Shene was also designated a terrorist group on the same day.

However, after the conflict ended with a truce signed in Pretoria in November 2022, lawmakers removed TPLF from the official list of terrorist groups.

Experts view the latest move as a significant step in the peace process following the two-year conflict in the country’s north.

Source: https://www.thereporterethiopia.com/40840/

A father who lost 2 sons in a Boeing Max crash waits to hear if the US will prosecute the company

 Ike Riffel fears that instead of putting Boeing on trial, the government will offer the company another shot at corporate probation

Photo by: Jim Young/AP

Protesters hold photographs of victims of the 2019 Boeing Ethiopian Airlines crash, including Melvin Riffel, left.

By: AP via Scripps News

Posted at 7:34 AM, Jun 28, 2024

As they travel around Alaska on a long-planned vacation, Ike and Susan Riffel stop now and then to put up stickers directing people to “Live Riffully.”

It's a way for the California couple to honor the memories of their sons, Melvin and Bennett, who died in 2019 when a Boeing 737 Max jetliner crashed in Ethiopia.

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The Riffels and families of other passengers who died in the crash and a similar one in Indonesia a little more than four months earlier are waiting to learn any day now whether the U.S. Justice Department, all these years later, will prosecute Boeing in connection with the two disasters, which killed 346 people.

Related Story: Department of Justice to decide whether to prosecute Boeing over alleged agreement violation

Ike Riffel fears that instead of putting Boeing on trial, the government will offer the company another shot at corporate probation through a legal document called a deferred prosecution agreement, or DPA. Or that prosecutors will let Boeing plead guilty and avoid a trial.

“A DPA hides the truth. A plea agreement would hide the truth,” Riffel says. “It would leave the families with absolutely no idea” of what happened inside Boeing as the Max was being designed and tested, and after the first crash in 2018 pointed to problems with new flight-control software.

“The families want to know the truth. Who was responsible? Who did what?” the father says. “Why did they have to die?”

Ike is a retired forestry consultant, and Susan a retired religious educator. They live in Redding, California, where they raised their sons.

Mel was 29 and preparing to become a father himself when Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 went down six minutes after takeoff. He played sports in school and worked as a technician for the California Department of Transportation in Redding. Bennett, 26, loved performing arts while growing up. He worked in IT support in Chico, California, and clients still send cards to his parents.

“They were our only two sons. They were very adventurous, very independent, loved to travel,” Riffel says.

In early 2019, Mel and his wife, Brittney, took a “babymoon” to Australia. Brittney flew home while Mel met his brother in Taiwan to start what they called their world tour. He and Bennett were headed toward their last stop, South Africa, where Mel planned to do some surfing, when they boarded the Ethiopian Airlines flight in Addis Ababa.

Related Story: Boeing reports possible falsified records to FAA

Back in California, Susan Riffel answered the phone when it rang on that Sunday morning. On the other end, someone from the airline told them their sons had been on a plane that had crashed.

“When you first hear it, you don't believe it,” Ike Riffel says. “You still don't believe after you see that there was a crash. ‘Oh, maybe they didn’t get on.' You think of all these scenarios.”

The next shock came in January 2021: The Justice Department charged Boeing with fraud for misleading regulators who approved the Max, but at the same time, prosecutors approved an agreement that meant the single felony charge could be dropped in three years.

“I heard it on the news. It just kind of blew me away. I thought, what the hell?” Riffel says. “I felt pretty powerless. I didn't know what a deferred prosecution agreement was.”

He and his wife believe they were deceived by the Justice Department, which until then had denied there was a criminal investigation going on. Boeing has never contacted the family, according to Riffel. He assumes that's based on advice from the company's lawyers.

“I have no trust in (Boeing) to do the right thing, and I really lost my confidence in the Department of Justice,” he says. “Their motto is to protect the American people, not to protect Boeing, and it seems to me they have spent the whole time defending Boeing.”

The Justice Department reopened the possibility of prosecuting Boeing last month, when it said the company had breached the 2021 agreement. The DOJ did not publicly specify the alleged violations.

Boeing has said it lived up to the terms of the deal, which required it to pay $2.5 billion, most of it to the company's airline customers, and to maintain a program to detect and prevent violations of U.S. anti-fraud laws, among other conditions.

The pending decision in Washington matters to family members around the world.

The 157 passengers and crew members who died in the Ethiopian crash came from 35 countries, with the largest numbers from Kenya and Canada. Nearly two dozen passengers were flying to attend a United Nations environmental conference in Nairobi.

The March 10, 2019, crash came just months after another Boeing 737 Max 8, operated by Indonesia’s Lion Air, crashed into the Java Sea, killing all 189 people on board. The vast majority of passengers on the Oct. 29, 2018, flight were Indonesians.

In both crashes, software known by the acronym MCAS pitched the nose of the plane down repeatedly based on faulty readings from a single sensor.

Relatives of people on both flights sued Boeing in U.S. federal court in Chicago. Boeing has settled the vast majority of those cases after requiring the families not to disclose how much they were paid.

Related Story: Boeing whistleblower reportedly dies from a 'sudden, fast-spreading' illness

The Riffels have found strength and purpose in meeting with families of some of the other passengers from Flight 302. Together, they have pressed the Justice Department, the Federal Aviation Administration and Congress to make sure that aircraft are as safe as possible.

Many of them want the government to prosecute high-ranking Boeing officials, including former CEO Dennis Muilenburg and current chief executive David Calhoun, who was on the company's board when the crashes occurred. They have asked the Justice Department to fine Boeing more than $24 billion for what one of their lawyers, Paul Cassell, called “the deadliest corporate crime in U.S. history.”

The group of relatives includes Javier de Luis, an aerospace engineer whose sister, Graziella, was on the Ethiopian flight. And Michael Stumo and Nadia Milleron, who lost their daughter, Samya. Canadians Paul Njoroge and Chris and Clariss Moore have made several trips to Washington to implore government officials to move against Boeing and demand safer planes. Njoroge's wife, three children and mother-in-law were all on the plane, as was the Moores' daughter, Danielle.

At first, the disparate group of family members connected by emails just to check in on each other. Before long, and especially after meeting face to face, they grew more determined to do more than grieve together; they wanted to make a difference.