Worancha ወራንቻ

Ethiopia - Humanitarian situation Thu, 11/06/2015 - 01:03 The humanitarian situation in Ethiopia is quickly deteriorating due to an expanding drought following poor belg/gu/ganna/sugum raining season. Increasing water and pasture shortages were reported in parts of the country, leading to deteriorated livestock production and productivity, deepening food security and raising levels of malnutrition. Areas of particular concern are Afar; Waghimra zones of Amhara region; Arsi, West Arsi, Bale, East and West Hararge zones of Oromia region; Gurage, Hadiya, Halaba, Kembata Tembaro, Siltie, Sidama and Wolayeta zones of Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region (SNNPR); and Harshin woreda in Fafan zone and Site zone of Somali region. Large number of drought displaced families moved to areas that received rain. This will cause over-grazing of the areas, which may damage the resiliency and the coping mechanisms of the host communities during the next dry season and can dim

Image: Marc Veraart / Flickr April was a terrible month for Ethiopian migrants. Tescma Marcus and his brother Alex were  burned alive  during xenophobic attacks in South Africa. One week later, Eyasu Yekuno-Amlak and his brother Balcha were  dramatically executed  in Libya by ISIS, along with 26 others. One reason Ethiopians were involved in high-profile tragedies at opposite ends of the continent: Their nation is the second-most populous in Africa as well as the second-poorest in the world (87 percent of Ethiopia's 94 million people are impoverished ). Roughly  two-thirds  of Ethiopians are Christians. The majority of these belong to the ancient Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church; the rest primarily to Protestant denominations such as the Ethiopian Evangelical Church Makane Yesus (which recently  broke ties  with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America over theological concerns). The Orthodox and Protestants have long had in common the search for a better life. Incr

The opposition Blue Party (Semayawi) reported the killing of a candidate in the last parliament elections in the city of Debre Markos, in north-west Ethiopia. According to party officials, two unidentified persons fatally attacked Samuel Awoke with knives and clubs on his way home after an evening with friends. “We are conducting an investigation into the identity of the attackers and motives, which appears politically motivated”, said Samuel Tesfaye, Blue party spokesman. Local authorities announced the arrest of a suspect, indicating that the motive may have been “a legal dispute”. The victim already during the election campaign had reported threats and attempted assaults. The May 24 elections were won by a landslide by the ruling Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF), and allies that won all 442 federal seats on 547 announced so far by the electoral commission. To read more

Caven Etomi  has shared a new summer collection of hair accessories inspired by the traditional headdresses worn by Suri children of Ethiopia’s Omo Valley. The vibrant offerings from the Lagos-based luxury streetwear brand include  citrus headdresses  and  hair clips  (available in orange, lemon, and lime) in addition to floral crowns woven from  chrysanthemums ,  spider daisies  and  African violets . “The Suri people engage in body paintings, elaborate head dresses and inserted lip plates as a way to enhance their beauty,” Caven Etomi said in an e-mail. “We have reinterpreted this traditional head dress, giving it a modern spin by creating unique crowns, embellished with floral and fruit combinations, to celebrate and embody the spirit of this striking cultural group.” What do you think?  See more at: http://www.okayafrica.com/news/caven-etomi-ethiopian-inspired-floral-headdresses/#slide1

The Harambee Stars' Stephene Wakanya, left, and Kevin Kimani during team training at City Stadium on Wednesday before leaving for Ethopia on Friday, June 17th, 2015. PHOTO/ JONAH ONYANGO.  For many years, the Kenyan Premier League (KPL) has always been touted as one of the best competitions on the continent. However, national team Harambee Stars coach Bobby Williamson believes this will be tested when the side takes on Ethiopia in Sunday’s Africa Nations Championships (CHAN) match away. The competition is reserved for players who feature in domestic leagues. “We have heard many times that the KPL ranks probably second to the South African league, but the time to prove this will be on Sunday when we play Ethiopia,” said the coach on his first day of training for the fixture at City Stadium, yesterday.  RESPECTS ETHIOPIANS Williamson further said that he greatly respects the Ethiopians, who are known to pass the ball around well. Stars, he says, will be out to deny them posses

Abstract The study was conducted to identify the challenges and opportunities of backyard poultry production in Arbegona Woreda, Sidama Zone. Both primary data via structured questionnaire and secondary data from different relevant offices, published and unpublished sources were gathered using 120 statistically selected households. To enrich the data, field observations and group discussions were also made. The result of the study indicated that the dominant flock structure in the study area is laying hens (42.4%) followed by pullets (19.1%). Hatching egg naturally at home (50%) and purchasing from market (45%) are the main flock sources of poultry as responded by the households. The result also indicated that 95% of the breeds in the study area are local breeds indicating use of hybrid and exotic breeds is less common probably because of lack of awareness. The main purpose of keeping poultry and egg is for selling (50% & 40% respectively) followed by egg for incubation (31.7%)

Addis Ababa is too important a place to sideline over a small matter like democracy On 24 May, Ethiopia went to the polls – a fact that might have escaped your attention. Hardly surprising since there was next to no coverage in the British press. Even the BBC no longer has a correspondent in Addis Ababa. But perhaps there is another reason why the election in what is one of Africa’s most important countries received so little attention: it was a foregone conclusion. The last time Ethiopians were given the opportunity to vote, the ruling party and its allies won hands down. Prime Minister Meles Zenawi and the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) and its affiliated parties took 545 of 547 seats. The opposition was reduced to just two MPs. There was, apparently, some concern among those close to Prime Minister Meles that an election could be quite so blatantly rigged. The US State Department  reported  that the few international election observers a

Matare, a Nuer settlement along Baro River, Gambela Region, Ethiopia, in quieter times. Photo: UNICEF Ethiopia 2005 / Getachew via Flickr (CC BY-NC-ND). It's not just western corporations that are moving into large-scale agribusiness in Ethiopia, writes Mohammad Amir Anwar. Indian investors have acquired rights to some 6,000 sq.km of land much of it in the ecologically sensitive Gambela region, where unconsulted Nuer and Anuak peoples are suffering from forest clearance. Gambela is an ecological hotspot with Gambela National Park at its centre. It is home to Nuer and Anuak people whose livelihoods are threatened by investors illegally clearing trees in the park. The global food  price crises  between 2008 and 2009 led countries that bore the brunt of the catastrophe to look elsewhere for agricultural land to mitigate the effects. In 2008 prices of some foods, including wheat, soared by 130% in a single year and the United Nation's Food and Agriculture Organisati

Hawassa is to host a continental conference on post harvest and agro-processing starting from June 24-26, 2015, Ethiopian News Agency reported. The conference centers on ways of bringing agricultural transformation in Africa, according to a press statement from the organizers. Sasakawa Africa Association (SAA) and the Sasakawa Africa Fund for Extension Education (SAFE) as well as Ethiopian Ministry of Agriculture come together to organize the conference. SAA Managing Director, Juliana Rwelamira said 30 percent of food produced by Africa’s smallholder farmers is lost during postharvest. “We must improve postharvest handling, storage and the processing of agricultural produce to reduce losses, increase income, and improve livelihoods. Essentially, also, we must produce more nutritious food both for the home and the market place”, he commented. The conference intends to discuss on ways of adopting and scaling-up good practices supported with policies and infrastructures to d

Fascinating: New data on who most travels to Ethiopia, and where its 90 million-plus locals visit 11 JUN 2015 16:10 EDEN SAHLE Growing tourism industry adding tailwind to Horn of African country's burgeoning economy. Ethiopia is an increasingly popular destination for travellers. (Photo: wo de shijie) MORE than 96 million people are counted as Ethiopian, accounting for 1.3% of the total world population and making the country the 13th most-populated globally. The country is also as diverse as it is populated, home to cross-cultural civilisations from North Africa, sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East, giving it a rich heritage and enticing visitors from all over the world. To further explore visitor behaviour into and within the country, hotel booking website   Jovago  recently surveyed Ethiopia’s travellers. Some of the findings are fascinating.     Domestic Travellers  Addis Ababa, also known as capital city of Africa due to hosting the African Union (AU)

Public Participation - Sense of Urgency to Rescue Rift Valley Lakes Featured Lake Langano shorelines are risk of human encroachment The Ethiopian rift valley lakes are clustered along the northern section of the African Great Rift Valley. Although many disturbances to the natural resources, influencing both its status and diversity the rift valley lakes area is also known for its stock of remnant forests and wildlife, among others. Among the protected areas forest Adaba-Dodola and Harama-Buluk are known by its potential to sequestrate carbon emission and its immense contribution to the local community in particular and the Region in general through Eco-tourism, environmental services and economic values, according to Oromia Forest and Wildlife Enterprise (OFWE). Among the limitless potentials, its is a centre of biodiversity also important bird habitat and sanctuary also breeding, feeding and nesting habitat for many residential as well as palaertic migrating birds. Lake A