Monday Septmber 22' 2003

ADDIS ABABA

Prisoners graduated

Some 98 prisoners graduated last Wednesday, 17 September 2003 upon completion of a one-year training at the industry and handicraft center of the Addis Ababa Prison Administration. 66 of trainees have been trained in woodwork while the rest studied metalwork, tailoring, carpentry and weaving. The center has so far trained 313 prisoners in various skills while preparation is also underway to enroll 200 prisoners in the centerin the current Ethiopian academic year. (Ethiopian Herald, 17/09/2003)

Police arrests theft suspects

Police has arrested suspected persons for selling items they were supposed to deliver, investigation department with the Addis Ababa police commission disclosed. 

The defendants were charged for selling the goods in Addis Ababa and Wonji using forged names and documents. The police later found out that the suspects sold 700 quintals of sesame and 300 quintals of coffee in Addis Ababa and Modjo town despite their promises to transport to Djibouti. The exhibits are now in the hands of Police. (Addis Lissan, 17/09/2003)

 Citizens called to utilize ozone friendly equipment

Citizens have been urged to utilize ozone friendly equipment thereby contributing their share to the conservation of the stratospheric ozone layer. The call was made by the National Meteorological Service Agency official at an International Ozone Day observation event held here on Tuesday for the ninth time. It was said the depletion of the ozone layer is feared to continue over the coming ten years despite the minimization of chemical substances threatening the ozone element O3. Countries signed the Montreal Protocol to protect the layer through banning the use of ozone non-friendly materials. The layer has paramount importance to the human life as it absorbs ultra violet radiation before it reaches the surface of the earth. This year the Day was observed in Ethiopia under the motto, “Save O3ur Sky: There is a whole Lot More to do for Our Children.”

(Ethiopian Herald, 18/09/2003)

AMHARA

Health institutions readied for service

The construction of 40 out of the 46 health institutions launched with an outlay of over 105 million birr during the previous fiscal year was finalized, the state’s Health Bureau said. This includes the construction of the Dessie, Debre Tabor and Bahir Dar Nursing Colleges and the expansion of the Woldiya and Methema hospitals, which have so far been completed and readied for service. It was said that the health institutions would become fully operational at the beginning of this new Ethiopian year and are expected to benefit over 300,000 people. (Ethiopian Herald, 13/09/2003)

Plant to begin mineral water production

An entrepreneur has been engaged in the development of mineral water in Tehuledere woreda of South Wollo Zone at a cost of over 24 million birr, the woreda rural development office said. The fixing of machinery, construction of buildings and the development of springs were nearing completion and is expected to finalize in the coming three months. The investment project has until now created job opportunity to over 200 local people. (Ethiopian Herald, 16/09/2003)

BENISHANGUL-GUMUZ

Company licensed to explore, extract gold

A company has been licensed to engage in gold exploration and extraction activity with a capital of 27 million birr, according to the water, mines and energy bureau of the state. Officials from the bureau said the ‘Benil Private Limited Company’ could undertake gold mining in Shitalo areas of Kumruk woreda, Assosa Zone. It was said the company has agreed to undertake the exploration activities on 20 sq.km. of land for the next five years.

(The Ethiopian Herald, 18/09/2003)

 GAMBELLA

Gambella National Park harbors 495 wildlife species

The Gambella National Park has disclosed that a study has indicated the presence of 495 wild animals and 274 species of plants in the park. The study which was conducted at a cost of half a million birr has identified 327 bird species, 92 fish species, 69 mammals and seven species of reptiles as well as 274 plant species to exist in the park. It was said that the intensified conservation activities have enabled the endemic wildlife species including the white ear Korke and Nile Lochewe to be rescued from extinction. Meanwhile the park has allocated more than 347,000 birr to conduct a study aimed at strengthening the conservation activity and attracting more tourists visiting the park. The park was established in 1965 E.C. and is reserved on an area of 5,061 km2. (Ethiopian Herald, 14/09/2003)

HARARI

191.7 million birr budget endorsed

The Harari State Council has approved a 191.7 million birr budget allocated for the current Ethiopian fiscal year. Out of this, 27,768,000 birr was earmarked as capital and the balance as recurrent and reserve budget. According to the budget report, close to 23 million birr was allocated by the government while 2.8 million birr would be obtained from loan and the remaining 1.9 million birr from grants. The council has allocated 5.1 million birr as reserve budget. (Ethiopian Herald, 14/09/2003)

OROMIA

Alemaya University opens 19 new departments

The Alemaya University disclosed that it has finalized preparations to introduce 19 new departments at philosophical doctoral degree (PhD), postgraduate and undergraduate levels. It was said that six of the newly introduced departments would be at PhD level in agricultural economics, soil and water engineering, crop production and soil sciences while two of them would be postgraduate studies and the remaining 11 at undergraduate levels. The university would enroll some 20 PhD students in the three departments, which increases the total departments offered at PhD level to eight. Postgraduate studies would be offered in fodder development and conservation as well as agricultural extension programmes. The undergraduate studies would also include Oromiffa, computer sciences, cooperatives organization, soil conservation and veterinary sciences. (Ethiopian Herald, 16/09/2003)

 SOMALI

 Children’s vaccination accomplished beyond set target

About 93,000 children have been immunized against polio in six woredas of the Shinile Zone, the zonal Capacity Building Office said. It was said that the set target was to immunize 83,702 children in the weeklong door-to-door campaign. The number of beneficiaries increased due to the availability of the necessary equipment as well as support provided to health workers. (Ethiopian Herald, 13/09/2003)

 SOUTH

 Wollayta-Arba Minch roving trade fair, bazaar opens at Soddo

A five-day Wollayta- Arba Minch trade fair and bazaar jointly organized by Wollayta Zone Trade, Industry and Transport Department and Mega Information Enterprise was opened last Tuesday, 16 September 2003 in Soddo town, the zonal department said. Whereas over 50 manufacturers, distributors and importers as well as service providers have taken part in the trade fair, various electronic equipment and other industrial products have been displayed in the trade fair. More than 10,000 people were expected to visit it. The trade fair and the bazaar was aimed at promoting investment, culture, history and tourism. (Ethiopian Herald, 16,18/09/2003)