Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Demeke Mekonnen held discussions with Regional Representatives of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) for East Africa, Marcel Akpovo.
On the occasion, Demeke appreciated Marcel for the readiness of his office to support Ethiopia’s efforts in strengthening the promotion and protection of human rights in the country.
He also commended the recent joint agreement of the UN and EHRC to conduct joint investigations into alleged human rights abuses allegedly committed in the Tigray region.
In this regard, Demeke said the Ethiopian government is committed to bringing perpetrators to justice based on the findings of the joint investigation.
Successful collaboration on the joint investigation between the two institutions would clarify the reality on the ground and stem the unwarranted criticism on the institutional independence of the EHRC, he noted.
Demeke finally expressed his hope that the EHRC and OHCHR would start their joint investigation soon and that this will contribute to enhancing the capacity of the EHRC.
The discussion between the two sides also covered the Ethiopia-Sudan border dispute and the negotiations over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD).
Regional Representatives of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) for East Africa, Marcel Akpovo, on his part thanked the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Demeke for extending support and cooperation to the success of his office in the region.
He also expressed satisfaction with the working relations and collaboration with EHRC, in particular with the joint investigation over the Tigray issue.
Deputy PM Demeke confers with UN Human Rights Representative
Nation Gears up to Roll out Second Round COVID-19 Vaccination
Ethiopia will launch the second-round of rolling out the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine in the upcoming months, Ministry of Health says.
As COVID-19 in Ethiopia has been consistently on the rise and triggering calls for more robust measures to halt spread of the virus, the government is taking various measures to prevent the spread of the pandemic, it was indicated.
Following the first confirmed case of COVID-19 in Ethiopia in March 2020, the Government of Ethiopia took several public health measures and protocols to prevent increased levels of infection.
Despite the government’s ongoing interventions and protocols, the AstraZeneca Sino Farm vaccines are being given which have been licensed by Ethiopian Food and Drug Administration (EFDA).
Currently, some priority groups are receiving the vaccine and according to the Ministry of Health, 470,000 people have so far been vaccinated in the first-round of vaccination program.
Health State Minister, Saharala Abdullahi said preparations are currently underway to launch a second round of COVID-19 immunization program.
According to her, “It is expected that 5.5 million doses of vaccine will be received from donor countries.”
There is plan to import 20 million vaccines to Ethiopia until the upcoming November 2021.
Ethiopian Diaspora urged to support GERD in advocacy, funding
The Ethiopian Embassy in Canada in collaboration with Alliance for GERD in Canada held a webinar discussion entitled “updates on GERD and Information Session on GERD Bond Purchase”.
Seleshi Bekele, Minister for Water, Irrigation, and Energy of Ethiopia tabled presentations over the current status of the GERD construction and what is expected of the Ethiopian Diaspora to support the project.
The Minister made a call to Ethiopian Diaspora in Canada to stand together and extend help to the completion of the national flagship project, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
He said the Diaspora should consider themselves as ambassadors to their country declaring the rights of Ethiopia to an equitable and fair utilization of the Nile River basin.
Diaspora Branch Manager at the Commercial Bank of Ethiopia, Lemma Wakeyo explained the various modalities regarding the purchase of the GERD bonds.
Ethiopian Ambassador to Canada, Nassise Chali, reiterated how the GERD would benefit all Ethiopians and underscored the need to support the project in advocacy, funding, and in every other possible way.
Somali Region Deputy President lays cornerstone for 60mln birr public library
Deputy President of Somali Regional State, Mustafa Omer along with high level officials has laid a cornerstone for the state-of-the-art public library to be built in Jigjiga town.
Deputy President of the region, on the occasion, said the library is the first in its kind in the region.
The total project cost of Birr 60 million will be covered by contributions from the public and budget from the regional government, Mustafa said.
Deputy President Mustafa further extended gratitude to those who started the initiative to build the state-of-the-art public library.
