Egypt donates 9.5 tons of drugs to flood affected areas

The Egyptian Embassy in Addis Ababa has presented to Ethiopian Disaster Prevention and Preparedness Agency (DPPA) an Egyptian donation to help the relief efforts in areas affected by the floods last year.
The Egyptian donation consisted of 9.5 tons of most needed drugs to assist the victims of the floods.
The Egyptian donation is an additional indication of the solidarity of the Government and people of Egypt with Ethiopia.
This consignment was presented in the framework of Egyptian Aid Program and within the excellent bilateral relations between Egypt and Ethiopia.
Another food donation of 500,000 Egyptian Pounds of locally produced dry biscuits will be delivered to the Ethiopian authorities soon.
It is worth mentioning that Egypt was among the countries to respond to the recent floods crisis in Ethiopia.
In November 2006, humanitarian aid was delivered to the Ethiopian Red Cross. It consisted of 26 tons of Wheat Flour and Rice.
In September 2006, Egypt donated 223 Metric tons of Maize to the Disaster Prevention and Preparedness Commission store in Dire Dawa.
Furthermore, in August 2006, an assistance of 18 Metric Tons of food and drugs was delivered by the Egyptian Ministry of Head and the Egyptian Red Crescent. (Press Release March 29, 2007)

Strategic plan for implementation of ICT policy enters implementation phase

The five-year strategic plan prepared to implement the information and communication technology policy has entered into implementation phase, the Ethiopian Information and Communication Technology Development Agency (EICTDA) said.
During a discussion forum jointly organized by Nokia and Siemens companies here today, Project Management Unit Manager with the Agency, Tessema Geda, said the strategic plan enables to speed up the country's socio-economic development and bring about rapid information and communication technology transition.
The strategic plan also enables to speed up the country’s overall development and build the capacity to execute the information and communication technology policy devised for the first time in the country, he said.
He further added that the plan enables to pave the way for creating a consistent system of human resource development and budget allocation in line with the major targets of the agency.
The manager said the plan has created suitable conditions in which the private sector can contribute to the growth of information and communication technology in the country through training and capacity building, marketing and other sectors. (April 4, 2007 WIC)

EEPCo provides round-the-clock electric services to towns, resettlement villages in Gambella

Ethiopian Electric Power Corporation (EEPCo) said it is undertaking installation of electric cables and poles to make 10 rural towns and villages become beneficiaries of round-the-clock electric services this fiscal year.
Gambella District Manager Kidane Mestewat told WIC today that the corporation has finalized the installation of electric lines and poles in six of the ten rural towns.
Among the rural towns to get the service are Pinkiwo, Jewe, Baro, Abol and Larie towns as well as three resettlement villages, he added. (April 4, 2007 WIC)

Eritrea rejects Museveni’s plea

Eritrea yesterday said it had urged Uganda to pull out of Somalia after taking the “hasty step” of sending peace-keepers to the anarchic nation where the situation was deteriorating.
During a face-to-face meeting at Massawa port, the Eritrean government said President Isaias Afeworki had told his Ugandan counterpart Yoweri Museveni he was making an error.
“President Isaias went on to say that Uganda needs to take corrective measures regarding the hasty step it took in sending troops to Somalia,” a statement on the Eritrean government website said.
According to the statement, Eritrean and Ugandan leaders agreed during the meeting that the situation in Somalia was “escalating from bad to worse” and external forces in Somalia were “complicating the issue.”
“The two leaders discussed that the interference of external forces in Somalia is complicating the issue and that in order for peace to prevail in the country there should be a political process,” the state website added. (April 3, 2007, The New Vision)

Over 38mln birr safety net program underway in Hadiya Zone

Various development works are being executed in 10 woredas of Hadiya Zone, SNNP State, with over 38 million birr safety net program, the Zonal Administration disclosed.
Speaking at the 11th regular assembly of the Zonal Council today,Zonal AdministratorTamirat Erifo said more than 141,000 farmer households and members have been taking part in the development activities underway in 268 food-insecure kebeles of the zone since last February.
Accordingly,construction of roads and environmental protection activities are being executed by the inhabitants of zone. (April 3, 2007 WIC)

ETC says foundation for country's economic growth laid over past five years

The Ethiopian Telecommunications Corporation (ETC) has reportedly been expanding telecom infrastructural facilities in urban and rural parts of the country over the past five years thus laying foundation for economic growth.
Corporate Communications Affairs Division Manager, Abdurahim Ahmed, told a panel discussion yesterday that the government has undertaken activities which would allow the expansion of cell phones,wireless telephones,broadband internet, broadband multi-media and broadband Visat to all parts of the country in line with its strategy.
The activities included the installation of 950 telephone exchanges that could support 1,400,907 lines and microwave lines with high capacity in major towns of the country. (April 3, 2007 WIC)