December 29, 2004
Ethio briefs
Mission to assess Somali damage
Tuesday, 28 December, 2004, 11:35 GMT - At least 100 Somalis are feared drowned in the massive waves produced by Sunday's undersea earthquake off the coast of Indonesia. A UN assessment team is now visiting Somalia's flooded north western coast.
Asia's horrific quake seemed a world away here in landlocked Ethiopia. That was until we heard about the deaths just down the coast in Somalia. There were even reports of mini tsunamis hitting the South African east and south coasts, where waves measuring up to two metres in height have been spotted. As Africa's Medlog blog says, "nature has reminded us once again managed who really rules the world".
Journalist jailed in defamation case
New York, December 28, 2004—The Committee to Protect Journalists is deeply concerned about the recent jailing of an Ethiopian journalist who was unable to pay bail in a criminal defamation case. Wosonseged Gebrekidan, former editor-in-chief of the private, Amharic-language weekly Ethiop, has been imprisoned since December 23.
It has been a while since Ethiopia imprisoned a journalist - well, a few months at least. This time it was all over a 3,000 Birr (£200) bail payment.
Ethiopia wins third CECAFA Cup
ADDIS ABABA, December 26 (ENN) - Ethiopia, cheered on by home fans, beat Burundi 3-0 on Saturday in the final of the East and Central Africa Senior Challenge Cup at the Addis Ababa stadium, Ethiopian Television showed.Ethiopia, which has so far participated in 10 CECAFA events out of the 28, clinched the CECAFA cup for the third time.
This time no complaints about the referee. You could hear the game blaring out of radios and TV throughout December 25 (which is not Christmas Day in Ethiopia - that comes on January 7).
Immigration, Refugee Affairs Authority Grants ID Cards to Foreign Nationals
Addis Tribune - Four foreign nationals living in Ethiopia, Professor Richard Keir P. Pankhurst and his wife Mrs Rita Jacqueline Pankhurst and Mr Gerhard Luthi and his wife Mrs Hanna Luthi were last Saturday issued with identification cards in recognition of their important contributions to the people of Ethiopia.
Richard Pankhurst is the son of sufragette Sylvia Pankhurst (who is buried in Addis). He is also vice-chair of AFROMET the campaign group dedicated to getting the UK to return treasures stolen from Ethiopia in 1867. Here's a nice photo of the event.
UN seeks nearly $275 million in food and emergency aid for Ethiopia next year
23 December 2004 – The United Nations, Ethiopia and their humanitarian partners today appealed for more than 387,000 tons of food worth some $159 million for some 2.2 million needy people there, and a further $112 million of other assistance to meet emergency needs next year.
Posted by aheavens at December 29, 2004 4:57 AM