Ethiopian Airlines partners others to deliver relief items

Ethiopian Airlines, a German Non Governmental Organisation, humedica e.V, Aviation without Borders and the Airbus Foundation have joined forces to facilitate the transportation of nine tonnes of humanitarian goods from Toulouse, France to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

A statement issued jointly by the three organisations said the facilitation was done by utilising the delivery flight of Ethiopian Airlines’ newest A350 XWB. “The goods are destined to provide relief to drought prone areas in the East African region,” it said.

The humanitarian cargo consisted of diarrhoeal disease kits, emergency food rations, interagency emergency health kits and clothing. It said the goods would be handed over to the Ethiopian Airlines Foundation, the Ethiopian Administration for Refugee and Returnee Affairs and the National Disaster Risk Management Commission for further distribution to refugee camps, as well as health stations.

According to the statement, Tewolde GebreMariam, Group Chief Executive Officer Ethiopian Airlines said: “We are honoured to be working with humedica, Aviation without Borders and the Airbus Foundation to perform this humanitarian flight.

“The acceptance of our latest A350 XWB is made more meaningful as we transport much needed relief goods to the drought affected areas in the region.”He said Ethiopian Airlines would continue with its leadership role in fulfilling its Corporate Social Responsibilities, focusing as much on sustainability and social responsibility as on pure business performance.

“Whenever possible, we try to use delivery flights of new aircraft to our customers to ship medical or humanitarian donations to countries or regions in need,” Mr Fabrice Brégier, President Airbus Commercial Aircraft said.

Mr Brégier, who is also a member of the Airbus Foundation’s Board of Directors, according to the statement, said: “I will like to thank Ethiopian Airlines, humedica, Aviation without Borders and all partners involved in the organization for their tireless efforts and logistics support to successfully execute this mission.” Read more here

23 sentenced in Ethiopia for al-Qaida, al-Shabab links

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia –  A court in Ethiopia has sentenced 23 people to up to 15 years in prison for establishing links to the al-Qaida and al-Shabab extremist groups.

The Ethiopian Federal High Court says they had been accused of planning to carry out terror attacks inside the East African country.

The state-affiliated Fana Broadcasting Corporate quotes the court ruling as saying three of those sentenced had been planning to establish an Islamic state.

Court officials say the defendants were active between 2010 and 2014 in six cities including the capital, Addis Ababa.

The charge sheet says the defendants recruited individuals and sent them to neighboring Somalia for training. Al-Shabab, which has links to al-Qaida, is based in Somalia. Read more here

Militants attack Ethiopian base in Hiiran region

HALGAN, Somalia- The terror group al-Shabaab has attacked a military base for the Ethiopian troops serving with the African Union forces (AMISOM) in Halgan town on Wednesday, Garowe Online reports.

Local residents told GO that heavy fighting broke out in the town when al-Shabaab fighters attempted to storm into the base but encountered stiff resistance form the Ethiopian forces.

The two sides used heavy weaponry, as sound of exchange of fire heard from around the town, but so far no clear information on the casualties of the fighting has been reported.

The militant group al-Shabaab has announced through its affiliated media that its fighters have inflicted heavy losses to the Ethiopian military base and killed several soldiers. They also claimed seizing part of the town from the allied AMISOM forces.

Halgan town in Hiiran region was recaptured recently by AMISOM forces following the defeat of al-Shabaab fighters who fled the town. 

So far Somalia government and AMISOM officials didn’t comment on Halgan attacks on Wednesday or the casualties.

Al Qaida linked al-Shabab militants group have carried out frequent attacks against security forces and African Union forces in an efforts to topple the Somali government. Read more here

Undocumented Ethiopians living in Saudi urged to abide by 90-day amnesty

The Ethiopian government and various non-governmental organizations have urged undocumented Ethiopians residing in Saudi Arabia to take advantage of the three-month amnesty, which came into force on March 29.

The kingdom of Saudi Arabia announced the “Nation Free of Violators” campaign on March 19, to help undocumented expatriates regularize their status. Undocumented foreigners are able to leave the kingdom during the three-month grace period without paying any fines or being subject to legal actions.

The Middle Eastern country, however, announced that foreigners, who have failed to leave the country within the provided period, would face deportation, a prison sentence and fines.

According to the Ethiopian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, even though only 36 days left to the deadline given by the kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the number of undocumented Ethiopians returning back to their country is stills less.

Close to 400,000 undocumented Ethiopians are believed to live in Saudi Arabia. However, only 25,000 of them have so far received their travel documents to come back to their country, Meles Alem, Ministry Spokesperson told Xinhua on Wednesday.

The latest call was made by the Inter-Religious Council of Ethiopia (IRCE), a coalition of religious institutions in Ethiopia, urging Ethiopian nationals residing in Saudi Arabia without legal residence or work permit to return to their home country before the deadline set by the government of Saudi Arabia approaches.

The Council called on Ethiopians to take advantage of the amnesty and return to their country safely before facing unfavorable situations endangering their safety. Enditem

Source: Xinhua/NewsGhana.com.gh

Ethiopian infrastructures affected in global cyber attack

ADDIS ABABA, May 18 -- Ethiopian telecommunications, financial institutions, electronic companies, industries, and hospitals are among infrastructure targets affected by a computer virus called "WannaCry."

The Ethiopia Information Network Security Agency (INSA) the government body mandated with protecting Ethiopia's Information Technology (IT) infrastructure warned institutions who use Windows operating system to guard against the virus, with system update given as one solution against the dangers of the "WannaCry" Virus.

The Agency further asked institutions to contact its offices through a local number 933 or through its email address ethiocert@insa.gov.et to access information that will guard against the virus.

However, INSA didn't disclose the damage sustained by infrastructures affected by the computer virus.

The "Wannacry" virus has reportedly affected at least 200,000 victims in 150 countries, catching countries and institutions off guard with the sheer geographical spread.

Dawit Kiros, a software developer at a local firm Cybersoft told Xinhua that Ethiopia's vulnerability to ransom heist by the virus is low because the virus uses digital currency bitcoin unrecognized in Ethiopia to extort money from affected countries and institutions.

He, however, cautioned Ethiopia to upgrade its low cyber security capacity, in order not to be blackmailed by private or state entities with stolen data from its IT infrastructure that could be obtained by viruses like "WannaCry." (Xinhua) Read more here