Dr. Fikrejesus Amahazion

Vol 22. No.101
Saturday, 20 February, 2016
Pages 8, Price 2.00 NFA
Independence Torch in
Southern Red Sea region
Seminar for Civil Servants
At a meeting conducted on
February 16th, the Chairman of the
PFDJ in the Central region, Mr.
Yusuf Saiq, called on the members
of the PFDJ and civil service
workers to reinforce participation
in national development programs.
He further said that organizing civil
servants is one of the priorities of
the PFDJ.
The reports delivered by
different heads of groups indicate
that members have been active in
organizing development programs
and in raising the awareness and
knowledge of members in their
respective ministries.
Participants conducted extensive
discussions on the modalities that
should be followed to raise public
awareness and also forwarded
practical ideas of implementation.
The administrator of the Central
region, Maj. Gen. Romodan Osman
Aweliai, said that the participation
of PFDJ members is imperative for
the success of national development
programs and called on members to
actively participate for the success
of the Silver Jubilee Independence
Day celebrations.
The
Independence
Torch
currently touring the Southern Red
Sea region in connection with the
Silver Jubilee Independence Day
arrived yesterday, 19 February at
Rahaita covering 274.1 kilometers
in the region.
On arrival at Assab the
Independence Torch Upon was
awarded a warm welcome at
ceremony conducted at the
Assab stadium. The ceremony
was attended by heads of the
regional administration, Army
Commanders and many member
of the army and residents of the
port city.
The Independence Torch will
end its tour of the Southern Red
Sea region on 22 February and
will be handed over the Southern
region at Demhina.
news brief
Seminar on control of traffic accidents in Keren
Students’ Enrollment Increases
Aiming to reduce traffic accidents in the region, a seminar on the need
for drivers to adhere to traffic laws and safety was given in Keren on
February 11th.
The head of Administration and Finance of Adi-Keih sub-zone, Mr. Idris Hassan, indicated that the solid
relationship between parents and teachers has resulted in the increase of students’ school enrollment. He made the
comment at a meeting conducted in Adi-Keih.
He further said that thanks to the integrated efforts, there were no school dropouts due to residing a long distance
from schools. He also said that public’s assistance for teachers had made a significant contribution in the teaching
and learning process.
During the meeting, Mr. Idris also commended the active participation of the public in the soil and water
conservation programs, building of terraces, preparing of land for cultivation, as well as the renovation of roads.
Additionally, he indicated that sustainable vaccination programs have been conducted to ensure the health of
livestock in the sub-zone.
The work manager of the region, Mr. Habte Kidane, explained that the further renovation of roads, as well as soil
and water conservation programs, and planting of tree seedlings are activities planned for the upcoming year.
During the meeting, Mr. Tekhlay Habtemichael, head of land
transportation in Anseba region, indicated that upcoming measures to
improve traffic safety will include ensuring safety of vehicles and the
renewal of title deeds of ownership.
Harat Transport
Begins Service
along SegeneitiAdi Khonxi Route
Inhabitants around Segeneiti
and Adi-Khonxi have received
transport services following
initiatives taken by the Harat
Transport Company.
Benefactors contributed about 5
million Nakfa for the repair of the
formerly dilapidated road linking
the two sites, thus prompting the
company’s initiative.
The route links the villages of
Hebo, Adi-Khonxi, Akrur, Mai-Ila,
Adi- Fign’I, which are inhabited
by approximately 10,000 people.
Significance of Inspection of
Vehicles
The Head of Land Transportation
in the Central region, Mr. Beyene
Tesfamariam, said that the yearly
inspection of vehicles can make
a significant contribution in
reducing traffic accidents and the
loss of lives.
He also called on drivers and
owners to ensure the safety of
their vehicles, beyond making
temporary repairs for the sake of
passing the inspection.
With regards to driving schools,
Mr. Beyene said that a directive
has been given, informing the
schools to replace old cars with
new ones. He also indicated that
Police Commissioner in Anseba region, Major Habte Gebru, pointed
out that carelessness, speeding, driving under the influence of alcohol,
ignoring traffic regulations, driving vehicles that are below operating
standards, and failures to give way during heavy traffic are several of the
major causes of accidents and the loss of life or property.
He further added that last year, 321 traffic accidents occurred, with
7 people killed and over 250 sustaining various injuries, while over 5
million Nacfa worth of property damage was recorded.
Participants at the meeting raised several recommendations, including
the need for establishing new and renovating old traffic signs, constructing
pedestrian walkways, organizing awareness campaigns on traffic safety
and regulations, and monitoring bicycles, tricycles, and scooters in the
city.
Project to repair Aligedr Bridge underway
Segen Construction Company, with the help of locals residing in
Tesseney, Gash Barka Region has undertook a project to repair the
Aligedr Bridge. The bridge, found along the lines of Tesseney, has been
in need of significant repairs for years.
4 thousand drivers and vehicle
owners have been fined more
than 3.9 million Nakfa due to
negligence and mishandling of
their vehicles.
Documents from the Land
Transportation branch indicate that
there are more than 30 thousand
vehicles in the Central region.
According to Mr. Ferej Mohammed, Mayor of Aligedr, the line which
experiences a continuous flow of traffic, has suffered constant problems
due to damage to the bridge.
Mr. Ferej further assured that the work is being done with relentless
effort and is near completion.
Manager of the project, Mr. Mohamed Salh, added that the project is
being backed with heavy machinery assistance.
Eritrea Profile, Saturday, 20 February, 2016
2
Vol 22. No 101
Integrated Pest Management thru
Farmer Field Schools
Brhan Araya
Pesticides kill pests, but they also
kill pests’ natural enemies and thus
their overuse can harm farmers,
consumers and the environment.
The first line of defense should
be a healthy agro-ecosystem.
Specifically, a system that allows
organisms, such as predators,
parasites, pollinators, competitors
and decomposers to co-exist
peacefully.
All are components of cropassociated agro-biodiversity and
they perform a wide range of
ecosystem functions. Generally, the
aim of a healthy agro-ecosystem is
to manage insect pest populations
to the point where natural predation
operates in a balanced way and
crop losses to pests are kept to an
acceptable minimum. Towards this
end, a crop management system
called Integrated Pest Management
(IPM) has been introduced to local
farmers and farming communities,
both in Eritrea and around the
world.
IPM was first proposed in 1957
as a biological means of controlling
pests, coupled with good agronomic
practices, instead of simply
rushing to invest on pesticides. It
is an ecosystem approach to crop
production and protection that
combines different management
strategies and practices to grow
healthy crops and minimize the use
of pesticides, as formulated by the
Food and Agricultural Organization
(FAO). Globally, many institutions
and organizations promote IPM
as the preferred approach to crop
protection and regard it as a pillar
of both sustainable intensification
of crop production and pesticide
risk reduction. As such, IPM is
being mainstreamed within the
FAO’s activities involving crop
production and protection.
Published Every
Saturday & Wednesday
Acting Editor
Amanuel Mesfun
amme@zena.gov.er
P.O.Box: 247
Tel: 11-41-14
Fax: 12-77-49
E-mail:
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Azmera Berhane
Sara Alem
As a first line of pest control, IPM
programs work to manage crops,
preventing pests from becoming
a threat. In an agricultural crop,
this may mean using traditional
methods, such as crop rotation,
selecting pest-resistant varieties,
or planting pest-free material.
These control methods can be
very effective and cost-efficient,
and they present little or no risk
to people or the environment.
Enhancing these processes can
significantly increase yields and
sustainability, while reducing input
costs.
Community IPM on the other
hand is the conceptual framework
in which field schools are now
being conducted by national IPM
programmes within the member
countries of the FAO regional
programme. Community IPM is
a strategy in which a farmer field
school (FFS) is taken as a first step
in the development of sustainable
management by a community of its
shared agricultural and ecological
resources. The goal of this strategy
is to institutionalize IPM at the
local level.
Community IPM begins with
education at the FFS. The next
step is the follow-up of the FFS
with additional opportunities for
farmers to build their skills. These
activities further farmers’ learning
so that they are able to create
their own knowledge through
research and to organize groups
and activities. The goal of postFFS activities is to enhance the
capacities of farmers to create their
own mechanisms to manage their
shared resources. Community IPM
leads to farmer empowerment, and
ultimately seeks to institutionalize
IPM at the local level by putting
farmers in control of the process of
planning and implementing their
own IPM programmes.
Understandably, when an agroecosystem inclusive approach does
not seem sufficient, farmers often
respond by seeking additional
protection for their crops against
perceived threats. The pest
management decisions taken by
an individual farmer are based on
his or her personal objectives and
experiences. While some may apply
labor-intensive control measures,
the majority turn to pesticides.
In 2010, worldwide sales of
pesticides exceeded US$40 billion,
representing a serious threat to the
health of farming communities and
the broader environment.
However, prior to taking any
pest control action, IPM first
sets an action threshold – a point
at which pest populations or
environmental conditions indicate
that pest control action must be
taken. Importantly, sighting a
single pest does not always mean
control is needed. The dividing line
at which pests are considered to be
an economic threat is critical to
guide future pest control decisions.
This identification removes the
possibility that pesticides will
be used when they are not really
needed or that the wrong kind of
pesticide will be used.
Over-reliance on pesticides
impairs the natural crop ecosystem
balance. It disrupts parasitoid and
predator populations, thereby
causing outbreaks of secondary
pests. It also contributes to a
vicious cycle of resistance in pests,
which leads to further investment
in pesticide development but little
actual change in crop losses to
pests. As a result, induced pest
outbreaks, caused by inappropriate
pesticide use, have increased.
Increasingly, IPM has been
recognized for its notable
successes around the world. Today,
large-scale government IPM
programmes are operational in
more than 60 countries, including
Brazil, China, India and most
developed countries, including
Eritrea. The country, located within
the Horn of Africa, has begun
establishing its first IPM/FFS in
the Southern region as part of its
broad agricultural and sustainable
development initiatives. Recently,
Eritrea’s Ministry of Agriculture
(MoA), along with experts from
the FAO in Eritrea conducted a
training program for 20 farmers
and staff from the MoA on crop
production and protection.
The program, which was held
in Mendefera, the capital of
the Southern Region of Eritrea,
lays a firm foundation for the
establishment of FFS, and allows
smallholder farmers an opportunity
to share experiences. Speaking at
a graduation ceremony to mark
the completion of the IPM course
that ran from August to December
(2015), Mr. Efrem Ghebrekrstos,
Governor of the Southern Region,
said that the administration highly
appreciated the training programs,
particularly since the agricultural
sector is a mainstay of the country.
Mr. Arefaine Berhe, Minister of
Agriculture, added that the training
program was only the beginning
and that activities should be
extended every farmer’s field
within the country.
Eritrea Profile, Saturday, 20 February, 2016
3
Vol 22. No 101
Got Skills? Vocational and Technical
Training for Development
Dr. Fikrejesus Amahazion
Recently, the United Nations
Development Programme (UNDP)
highlighted an exciting skills
development
program
being
implemented in Eritrea. The
program, which specifically targets
youths, was scaled-up from a pilot
project that was conducted from
2007 to 2011. It aims to enhance
the capacity of various vocational
training institutions and equip
Eritrean youth with tangible work
skills. To date, numerous trainees,
both male and female, from Keren
and the surrounding Anseba region
have benefited from training in an
array of sectors, including graphics,
videography, metalwork, woodwork,
pottery, and electricity installation,
amongst others.
Although seemingly small in scale,
the project is not only a poignant
reflection of important ongoing
collaborative initiatives between the
Eritrean government, international
development partners (e.g. the
UNDP and Norway), and civil
society groups and organizations,
it also represents a positive step
by the country in working towards
general economic growth and broad
developmental outcomes.
In previous articles, I have
explored Eritrea’s nascent mining
and energy sector, which has played
a considerable role in the country’s
economic growth and wide-ranging
national development efforts.
However, as Eritrea continues to
grow and integrate into the broader
regional and global economy, it
is vital to raise and vary exports,
moving away from low-value added
and potentially unstable primary
products. Manufacturing is essential
to growth, and with rapid technical
change and global economic
integration, it is becoming important
as a means of modernizing and
diversifying the economic base.
Consequently, focusing on and
investing in technical and vocational
programs and human capital
development are key since they can
help build and refine the population’s
skills and capabilities to compete
within fiercely competitive markets.
Notably, advanced skills are not
just a requirement for “hi-tech”
sectors; even supposedly “simple”
areas such as apparel, footwear, and
basic engineering products require a
degree of skills to compete. Of further
importance, a skilled, knowledgeable
workforce dramatically improves
the investment climate since
trained, skilled workers create an
attractive economic environment for
investors.
Beyond their necessity for
competing in regional or global
markets, Eritrea should invest in
technical and vocational skills
programs and human capital
development since they help in the
fulfillment of a range of fundamental
human rights, significantly contribute
to social inclusion, can considerably
raise productivity and earnings
(particularly of the working poor),
reduce unemployment, increase the
efficiency of entrepreneurs, and play
positive, influential roles in crime
and poverty reduction (AfDB; BCG;
World Bank 2014).
The importance of technical and
vocational skills and human capital
development is particularly apparent
in relation to skills gaps. Skills
gaps are prevalent across much of
the developing world – such as in
Eritrea – and they persist despite
generally high unemployment
rates. Potential workers, lacking
the skills and training required by
various industries, remain idle and
unproductive.
An insightful case is Sri Lanka;
while the country has the most
educated workforce in South
Asia, with 87 percent of citizens
completing secondary school, its
workforce is not equipped with the
right skills to be machine operators,
technicians, sales associates, and
managers (World Bank 2014).
In this context, vocational and
technical training programs can
provide workers with the vital skills
required by dynamic, evolving
economies, and can ultimately help
address problems of unemployment
and lack of productivity (BCG).
Notably, skills acquired from
or honed within technical and
vocational programs are especially
significant for youth. Young people
frequently remain at the end of
the job queue for the formal labor
market because they lack adequate
skills and experience (Boateng
2002). With little access to formal
employment, youth may instead
turn to the informal sector. While
the informal sector can frequently
offer certain tangible benefits, it
can also be characterized by long,
unpredictable hours and limited
protections, returns, safety, or
security. More problematically,
youth unemployment can also
potentially lead to crime or other
harmful or dangerous behaviors,
such as sex work or illicit drug use.
Overall, vocational and technical
programs and human capital
development are critical elements
in encouraging and accelerating
development, inclusive growth,
and poverty reduction through
economic transformation and
job creation (AfDB). Moving
forward, Eritrea should continue to
invest in vocational and technical
programs, and seek to enhance
their overall effectiveness and
impact. Doing so will require firm
political commitment, the ongoing
participation and cooperation of
local and international partners,
sustainable financing (especially
for equipment), and the foresight to
ensure that expansion does not dilute
the quality of training.
To augment impact, the potential
for enterprise-based training should
be explored, while technical and
vocational programs should be
carefully assessed, diversified, and
matched with the skills required by
the labor market, possibly with the
active participation of employers
(Kanyenze, Mhone and Spareboom
2000; World Bank 2014). An
illustrative example is the system
of productivity councils that was a
fundamental component of the rapid
growth and success of the East Asian
economies. Specifically, the system
involved the specific skills profile
required by the private sector being
fed directly into the curricula of the
educational and technical sector.
Finally, the Eritrean government
and relevant stakeholders can
further
develop
awareness
campaigns illustrating that technical
and vocational programs are an
important means of empowering
individuals to fully develop their
capabilities and tangibly improve
their lives. Importantly, these
campaigns will help garner greater
attention and participation, while
counteracting potential obstacles
related to perceptions of the alleged
low prestige of technical and
vocational programs.
Vocational Training to Enhance
Employment Skills for Youth in
Eritrea
UNDP and featured on www.
er.undp.org
The National Union of Eritrean
Youth and Students (NUEYS)
is equipping the youth with
vocational skills to help them
engage in economic activities and
access employment. The trainings
are facilitated through the youth
employment skills development
project in all the six regions of Eritrea.
Currently 198 trainees from Keren
town and its environs in Anseba
region, Eritrea, have benefited from
training in graphics, videography,
metalwork, woodwork, pottery and
electricity installation.
A committee of representatives
from the National Union of Eritrean
Women (NUEW), NUEYS, local
administration, Ministry of Labour
and the People’s Front for Democracy
and Justice (PFDJ), selects the
beneficiaries. The selection criteria
takes into consideration; gender
balance, youth from female headed
households, youth who have been
demobilized from the military
service, internally displaced people
and youth who have special needs.
One of the trainees, Daniel Kitre,
is 18 years old and has been training
in metalwork for the last six months.
He said that the training exceeded
his expectation because he has
learned a lot in those six months. He
is confident of his newly acquired
skills and aspires to have his own
workshop after the training. “I
would recommend this training
for my friends who are looking for
jobs,” he added.
Bierhane Teare (30) is a woodwork
trainer and is a former trainee. The
trainee job has enabled him to have
regular income which he uses to
support his family. “I would have
loved to start my own business but
I didn’t have capital. I am glad to
be using my skills to teach others.”
He has been at the training centre for
five years. He said that most of the
Contined on page 5
Eritrea Profile, Saturday, 20 February, 2016
4
Vol 22. No 101
The Kirar: Eritrean Women Way
of redefining Social Statues
It is in few socities in the world
that you find women playing
a piviotal roll in their society.
Whether Political, economic or
social cultural and in Eritrea the
woman has been a pivotal fabric
of the Eritrean Society since
colonization.
We are a proud nation who
publicly laud our woman with
out subjugating or stigmitizing
them. And it is no surprise to see
them excell in various parts of
our society, from having to fight
along side their male compatriots
in the treanches of nakfa during
the armed struggle to holding
important political public officess
after independence.
Equally to see Eritrean women
shine in the world of musical
art; says quite so much of their
extensive and some what complete
abilities. The kirar, a five stringed
traditional music instrumment
might be synanomous with a
male setting but eritrean women
have gone as far as to bypass the
patriarchal and political boundries
of a society and standout.
In the 1950s, Eritrean women
began playing the kirar in public
to voice their stern opinions
against policies of Italian fascist
rule in Eritrea, which included
banning indigenous Eritreans
from attending any cinema
shows.
The content of their songs was
profound and a byproduct of the
surrounding society, while the
women viewed themselves as
entertainers rather than simply
singers. Their songs were simply
recorded on ordinary tapes, and
many are still accessible from
the libraries of the Ministry of
Information and the Asmara TV
center.
“Non-violence is the first
article of our faith. And it is
also the last article of our creed,”
was a quote used by famous
female artists of Eritrea in the
1950s. They used this captivating
prefatory sentence in a letter
they sent to the British Military
aide, then helping oversee the
administration of Eritrea. After
the delivery of the letter in
December of 1951, the political
situation in Eritrea deteriorated
further with the substitution of the
British destructive administration
by Haile Selassie’s subservient
Ethiopian regime.
The women of the 1950s are
often credited with helping
to save Eritrea’s traditional
musical performances during
precarious times. Compared to
bars, cabarets and other public
houses, enda suwas homes for
selling traditional beer, were safe
havens to perform their highlyappreciated musical ensembles.
One of which is Gidey Rustom,
a mother of twelve children, one
of the distinguished women who
chose to express her musical
talents.
Furthermore, Asmara has
bold memories to narrate about
Catherina Tela (Gual Mamet)
and Letenkiel, also known as
Teresa. Both were entertainers
in Bar Kidane Mihret, which
was Catherina’s bar, and they
had their own songs. The songs
were diverse, passionately and
colorfully reflecting the social
mileu, in similar fashion to many
nationalistic songs.
These
women
continued
expanding their musical and
artistic influence. As a result,
other kirar performers began to
follow their lead. One of those
was Fana Itel, a renowned kirar
player whose name is frequently
found on “playlists” Eritreans
who were enlisted with the Italian
regiments in Libya.
Additionally,
Tsehaytu
Berhe (Gual Zenar), Fantaye
Gebreselassie,
Abeba
Woldeslassie, Aberash Shitera,
Meriem, and Ibrahim also were
among the long list of famous
kirar players and singers who
blessed the masses with their
beautiful melodies and touching
lyrics.
Tsehaytu Beraki – widely
considered a living legend - joined
this distinguished collection of
artists, adding her unique talents
and abilities. Born in 1941 in
Quatit, a small town within
the Southern Region, Tsehaytu
Beraki and Bishat Gebreslassie
still confuse audiences with their
voices cadence.
Amleset Abay is also widely
remembered
and
highlyrenowned. She was one of the first
black women to record on disc in
the United States of America, and
her songs were set apart by their
unique lyrics.
In an interview she gave in
Segeneiti on January of 2000 after
staging her final performance as
part of the international Against
All Odds conference, she noted
that her lyrics sought to reflect
the life of urban youths and their
significant experiences. Alganesh
Gerezghier, Abeba Asfaha and
Nighisti are also some of the
1960s women who remained
successful in “tuning” the strings
of kirar for similar socially
conscious purposes.
While in the 1930-1940s,
Sudanese and Arabic songs were
dominant, eritrean nationalistic
songs would arise again later,
much like digging out national
treasures which were buried by
mountainous overseas influences.
Consequently, in addition to
the famous kirar players, there
were also influential oud (fluteor mandolin-like instrument)
players.
Zefun Selassie were also skilled
and lauded players of the oud.
After some years, the legendary
Bereket Mengisteab—a former
barber—would join them.
Specifically, Yolanda and
Rosina Conti (the daughters of
Halima from Keren) ushered in
the addition of this instrument to
the package of Eritrean women’s
musical performances. Without
a doubt, this was a wonderful
moment expressing to society
women’s tremendous and distinct
contributions to the art and culture
of the country.
Mr. Tiquabo Weldemariam
affirms that the aforementioned
women played a vital role in
paving the track for contemporary
musical contributors in Eritrea. “It
was after they bravely challenged
the strong patriarchal culture that
many of us began to sing with
them,” he asserts. “We know that
these women are the heart and
soul of much of Eritrea’s past
and current musical scene,” adds
Bereket Mengsteab.
One of their famous songs
was Nie Baba, which is still
frequently remixed by numerous
contemporary artists. Teresa and
Yosief Abraham Z.
Eritrea Profile, Saturday, 20 February, 2016
5
Vol 22. No 101
Latest Attempt to
Cement an Erroneous Narrative
Sophia Tesfamariam
“…Ethnography
literally
means ‘a portrait of a people’.
Ethnography is a written
description of a particular
culture – the customs, beliefs, and
behavior – based on information
collected through fieldwork…”
–Marvin Harris and Orna Johnson
I just returned from a three week
visit to Eritrea and whilst there, a
friend showed me a 28 January 2016
article entitled “UNRAVELING
THE
COMPLEXITIES
OF
REFUGEE FLIGHT FROM
ERITREA”, written by Jennifer
Riggan and published in the
Georgetown Journal of International
Affairs. Even in Eritrea, I could
not get away from these incessant
campaigns to vilify the nation and
its leadership. Like all her previous
articles and ethnographic “research”
on Eritrea, this latest piece seeks
to cement a distorted narrative on
Eritrea and its National Service
Program (NSP). This seems to
be another desperate attempt to
remain relevant at a time when the
carefully crafted “anthropological”
and “ethnographic” narratives on
Eritrea, her people and leadership
are being challenged by Eritreans
everywhere.
There have been many
anthropologists and ethnographers
that have come to Eritrea since
independence in 1991. Jennifer
Riggan is one of them. Riggan came
to Eritrea as a Peace Corps volunteer
in 1995. Her personal encounters
and emotional responses to events
in Eritrea, including her marriage
to an Eritrean teacher, her primary
informant, make up the basis of her
“ethnographic research” on Eritrea.
In subsequent articles, over a span
of a decade, Riggan details her
relationship with her husband and
his attempts to leave Eritrea and
the problems he encounters, while
his compatriots stay to defend their
nation.
Instead of providing context
and history, these rather childish
personal accounts are examples
of the bias and lack of objectivity
found in almost all of her articles.
Riggan’s “research papers” lack the
intellectual and political maturity
needed to understand Eritrean
statehood and the arduous task of
nation building, being gallantly
carried out by the Eritrean people,
in a volatile and hostile international
and regional environment. Riggan
insists on provocatively delving
into national issues, such as national
identity of Eritreans, the relationship
of the Diaspora and Eritreans living
in Eritrea, emigration, national
service etc. etc. and makes blanket
conclusions based on hearsay and
anecdotal evidence.
Jennifer Riggan feigns concern
about the relationship and trust
between the people of Eritrea and
the leadership-and especially the
youth. It is a misplaced concern.
Misrepresenting Eritrea’s current
status, in her latest piece, Riggan
commenting on Eritrean migration
to Europe states the following:
“…This number is stunning
considering the fact that Eritrea is
not currently embroiled in war...”
Ethiopia’s 15 yearlong of
occupation of Badme and other
sovereign
Eritrean
territories
constitutes an act of war, something
Riggan conveniently ignores.
Eritrea has also been subjected
to unprovoked hostilities from
the United States and mercenary
states in its employ. The existential
threat to Eritrea is real. But equally
threatening is the psychological
warfare unleased against the Eritrean
people in the last 15 years, with
Riggan and her ilk in the forefront.
Neither Riggan, nor her informants
understand the true nature of the
National Service Program in Eritrea
and what it entails, but insist on
producing volumes to malign it, as
she does in her latest article.
Once again, without ever
presenting evidence to back up her
erroneous allegations about the NSP,
Riggan writes:
“…While in service, Eritreans
are heavily controlled—they
cannot leave the country, choose
their occupation, or visit family
on a regular basis…”
The rules and regulations of
the NSP in Eritrea are no different
than that of other countries. Of
course there will be some control
over the participants. It is after all
trying to instill certain values and
principles, including discipline. No
one is above the law and there are
necessary restrictions on movement
as the country is technically still at
war.
The National Service Program
in Eritrea has been influenced by a
multitude of historical necessities
combined with contemporary
cultural, economic, social, and
political factors. Just as in the long
war for the liberation of Eritrea, the
NSP involves almost every family in
the state. In fact, it is now so deeply
rooted in Eritrean society that it
is almost taken for granted. The
importance of serving is perhaps the
only issue that has full consensus
among the Eritrean population. In
the NSP, which has been operating
in Eritrea since 1994, it is still the
case that more than 99 percent
of all eligible youth report for
recruitment on their specified date
willingly, without any need of threat
or warning. Phenomenon such as
NSP- dodgers was virtually unheard
of until recently-not surprising as
the country is still young and its
NSP program will undergo certain
fluctuations from time to time.
The Eritrean youth is not required
to reach a decision about whether or
not he should enlist. That decision
has been made for him/her and
has been upheld by hundreds of
thousands before him/her. Serving
in the Eritrean National Service
Program is a well-established norm
in Eritrean society, anchored in a
basically positive attitude toward
that service, and is supported by all.
In short, the NSP in Eritrea, since
its early days, has been regarded
with great respect and its negative
portrayal in the mainstream media
has had minimal effect on its eager
participants.
The system spares the Eritrean
youth the effort of exploring
exemption routes-now popularized
by exaggerated media reports
and exploited by Riggan and her
husband. The legal requirement of
all Eritreans to participate in military
service makes it, in short, a fact of
life, not an option. Eritrean youth
prepare for SAWA with the same
sense of duty and excitement-not
to mention competition to excel in
the matriculation exams. The legal
requirement for military service
does not explain the high level
of motivation among majority of
Eritrea’s youth who proudly serve in
Eritrea’s NSP and Warsay Yikaalo
Program-but are seldom mentioned
in the COIE’s reports or in the
mainstream media.
I have visited the SAWA
Educational and Training Center at
least a dozen times and today, the
youth enrolled in the 29th round
are busy preparing for the 12th
grade matriculation examinations.
Contrary to what Riggan states,
the students will get to choose the
disciplines they want, but will have
to earn the grades that will allow
them to pursue their choices. 92%
of students enroll in the areas of
their first or second choice. If, for
instance, the medical school this
year has space only for 50 freshmen/
women, and eligible applicants
are greater than that, the selection
criterion is applied on the basis of
academic merit. Ditto for the other
highly sought disciplines. Those
who qualify will head to one of the
colleges to pursue their educationfor free. The others will be offered
certificate programs in the vocational
training centers.
Rebuilding and developing
Eritrea is the highest priority among
Eritrea’s national goals. The physical
threat to Eritrea’s existence is also
omnipresent. Ethiopia’s annexation
of Eritrea that led to the bitter 30
year struggle. In addition, one
has to add the collective memory
among Eritrean population of the
brutality of the armed struggle, the
razing of entire Eritrean villages, the
Ethiopian massacres in Ona, Sheib
and other town and cities in Eritrea,
the destruction and devastation
that ensued, and the displacement
of millions from their homes and
villages.
Ethiopia’s unprovoked 1998-2000
war of aggression and occupation,
and the continued occupation
of sovereign Eritrean territories,
including Badme, in violation of
the Eritrea Ethiopia Boundary
Commission’s final and bindings
delimitation and demarcation
decisions, as well as the many attacks
by groups harbored and financed
by Ethiopia make the existential
threats to Eritrea a constant reality.
The silence of the international
community and the inability of the
African Union and United Nations
to enforce their own Charters is a
clear signal that only Eritreans can
guarantee Eritrea’s sovereignty and
territorial integrity. Eritrea’s defense,
stability and security is deeply rooted
in every Eritrean citizen. The NSP is
the force that guarantees that it.
As for the portrait of the Eritrean
people-it cannot be easily altered by
ethnographic researchers, no matter
their cause…it is one defined by
deep rooted cultures and traditions.
Got Skills? Vocational...
Contined from page 3
furniture they make at the workshop
have been sold and there is adequate
demand for their items.
Another trainee, Hadgu Araya (36)
is a father of two children and is one
of the trainees that were demobilized
from the military. He has been in
training for the last seven months
and plans to open his own workshop
after the training.
Woodwork is not gender neutral.
Though it is a male dominated field
in Keren, Mrs. Tsega Teklemenot
(28) is a testimony that women can
thrive in this field. She has been a
trainer at the Keren centre for the last
eight years. “There is a perception
in the society that woodwork is hard
for women. This is not necessarily
true. I am [proof] that a woman can
do well in this field, I love what I
do,” she said. “Most ladies prefer to
work as waitresses and make quick
money, they don’t want to spend
time in training but I hope that
they will realize that time spent in
training actually pays off once one
starts working,” she added.
To promote women participation
in male dominated fields, NUEYs,
in collaboration with the National
Union of Eritrean Women, held
awareness raising campaigns in all
the six regions of Eritrea to create
awareness on gender balanced
roles.
One of the challenges of the project
is that they have limited space in the
centres and can only admit 50 youths
at a time. However, the project is
boosting the capacity of the training
centres. They have purchased
additional training equipment and in
future hope that they will be able to
admit more trainees.
The youth employment skills
project was scaled-up form a pilot
project that was implemented from
2007 to 2011. It is supported by
UNDP and the Government of
Norway.
The project aims to enhance
the capacity of various vocational
training institutions and equip the
youth with work skills. There is a
lot of demand for training and they
are planning to train 325 additional
youth in 2016.
Eritrea Profile, Saturday, 20 February, 2016
6
Vol 22. No 101
REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (RFP)
FOR CONSULTANCY SERVICES
RFP No. GF/R10H/01/2016
Letter of Invitation
Asmara: February 17, 2016
1.
The Ministry of Health of the State of Eritrea has received a grant
from the Global Fund towards the cost of HIV/AIDS, Malaria, and TB
Project. It is intended that part of the proceeds of this grant will be applied
to eligible payments under this contract.
2.
The Project Management Unit /PMU/ Ministry of Health now invites Proposals to provide the following Consulting Services:
PMU, Ministry of Health and inspect the Bidding Documents at the Procurement Office, PMU, Ministry of Health, Denden Street No.82, Asmara,
Eritrea; Tel: 291-1-122978, Fax: 291-1-124357 from 08:00 to 12:00 hours.
5.
Interested Consulting firms may obtain RFP at the address given
below during working hours.
I.
Review of Eritrean Standard Treatment Guidelines
6.
The Consulting firm should be registered and having renewed license for 2015
II.
Review of Eritrean National Formular
7.
III.
Survey of Rational Drug use
The Project Management Unit, Ministry of Health
More details on the Services are provided in the Terms of Reference.
3.
A firm will be selected under Quality and Cost – Based Selection
(QCBS) Method and procedures described in this RFP.
4.
Registered Consulting firms may obtain further information from
Photographers Corner
Proposal should be submitted to:
Hiwet Street No.5
P.O. Box 4899
Asmara-Eritrea
Tel. 122978
Fax. 124360
On or before 10:00 hrs March 25, 2016.
Photo:Taezaz Abraha
Nefasit
10-06-2010
Eritrea Profile, Saturday, 20 February, 2016
7
Vol 22. No 101
Never Forgotten: Teaching in Rebellious Eritrea
1965–1967 & Returning After 35 Years
By: Paul E. Huntsberger
Paul
Huntsberger’s
Never
Forgotten- Teaching in Rebellious
Eritrea 1965-1967 & Returning After
35 Years is a Peace Corps memoir
written from a unique perspective.
Not many Volunteers served in a
province of their host country that
later became an independent nation.
Huntsberger was a middle school
teacher from 1965 to 1967, in the
small village of Saganeiti, about 40
miles south of Asmara, the capital of
the province of Eritrea, then part of
Ethiopia.
The armed Eritrean struggle for
independence began in 1961, the
year Emperor Haile Selassie nullified
the federal arrangement established
by a United Nations Resolution,
disbanded the Eritrean parliament
and fully annexed Eritrea. The war
went on for thirty years, ending in
a military victory by the Eritrean
People’s Liberation Front in 1991;
and following a referendum, the
establishment of the independent
nation of Eritrea in 1993.
Huntsberger’s account follows
the usual Peace Corps experience
up to a point — the bonding during
training, the dreaded meeting with
the psychologist and the execrable
deselection process, first impressions
of his village, getting to know the host
country school headmaster, teachers
and students, settling in and making
friends and doing what Peace Corps
Volunteers did best, improvising,
teaching innovatively, engaging
students in after-class studies, and
promoting special projects such as
revitalizing the library and building
basketball and volley ball courts.
However, by the time he left in 1967,
Ethiopian troops were stationed in
Saganeiti and a curfew had been
imposed. Like many Peace Corps
Volunteers, after he left Ethiopia,
Huntsberger corresponded with
his former students and the many
friends he had made. However,
unlike the experiences of most
returned Volunteers, after 1974 as the
Eritrean struggle for independence
intensified, the letters ceased and
there was no possibility of visiting
the town and region where he had
taught.
In 1999, he fortuitously made
contact with one of his former
students, now an official in the
Government of Eritrea. In 2002,
Huntsberger was finally able, like so
many other Peace Corps Volunteers,
to visit the country where he
served as a young man and renew
friendships. He describes his anguish
upon learning of the deaths of some
of his students and friends during
the war, and the joy of reuniting with
Berekti, his “Eritrean mother” and
cook, now 86 and witnessing her
pleasure in seeing “Ato [Mr.] Paul”
again. For 35 years, he never forgot
her, his students and his friends, and
they never forgot him.
The memoir is based on
Huntsberger’s Peace Corps diaries
and letters he wrote to and received
from his students. It also contains
many grainy photos of his village
and students as well as some of the
author, looking youthful, carefree
and adventurous, as he traveled in
Ethiopia and East
Africa.
For many of
us who served in
the 1960s, staring
back through the
window of time,
we are forced to
recognize decades
have passed since
what Huntsberger
refers to as his
initial decision to
take a road less
traveled, join the
Peace Corps and
teach in Eritrea,
Ethiopia. As for
many of us, he
writes that choice “made all the
difference.”
As a PCV in Somalia, reviewer
Martin R. Ganzglass served as legal
advisor to the Somali National Police
Force. Upon entering private practice
he represented the EPLF (Eritrean
People’s Liberation Front) and the
Embassy of Eritrea in Washington;
and, in 1998–1999 helped to draft
the Eritrean Penal Code and Code of
Criminal Procedure. He has written
Cannons for the Cause and Tories
and Patriots, two historical novels
about the American Revolution, and
Somalia: Short Fiction, all published
by Peace Corps Writers.
WikiLeaks Exposes That Sanctions Imposed against
Eritrea are Politically Motivated
WikiLeaks
Exposes
that
Sanctions Imposed against Eritrea
are politically motivated to divert
the attention from Ethiopia’s
Occupation of Sovereign Eritrean
territory, including the town of
Badme.
The Sanction was imposed on 23
December 2009, but the concerted
and coordinated disinformation
campaign started in 2006, way before
the Somalia and Eritrea/Djibouti
Issues were taken as an agenda item
by the UN Security Council.
1.
On Ethiopia’s 2006
request to the US Government
to pressure Djibouti to Sever its
relationship with Eritrea and urge
it to support Ethiopia’s Agenda
“Meeting of US Deputy Assistant
Secretary for Africa, Donald
Yammoto with Mr. Tekeda Alemu,
Ethiopia’s Deputy Foreign Minister,
Addis Ababa, 16 Sep 2006) The
Government of Djibouti’s opposition
to IGAD actions in Somalia are
the result of its fear of Eritrean
President Isaias, Tekeda said, as
well as President Guelleh’s personal
business interests with Eritrea….
Tekeda maintained that the GOD
was “on the wrong path,” and
added that Djibouti was not strong
enough to take Ethiopia’s continued
friendship and forbearance for
granted…. Tekeda urged that the
USG speak frankly with Djibouti
about its role in the region. He said
that President Guelleh would pay
attention to U.S. concerns given
the importance to him of the U.S.
military base in Djibouti. “He must
be told to choose” whose side he
wanted to take.”
2. On US diplomatic activity
to Assess for the possibility of
imposing
sanctions
against
Eritrea
“US
Secretary
of
State
Condoleezza Rice’s Talking Point
sent to the USUN Mission in New
York on 1 March 2008
Action addressees should assess
the utility and level of support for
targeted sanctions, and specifically
which measures might be most
successfully imposed and effectively
implemented in this context.
Department is especially interested in
the views of African members of the
Security Council. Potential options
include: Imposing a travel ban on
key Eritrean government officials.
Placing an assets freeze on these
same officials and/or other Eritrean
assets/resources. Imposing trade,
investment, or other restrictions
related to Eritrean resources,
including mining. Imposing an arms
embargo on Eritrea.”
3. On the request by the Prime
Minister of Ethiopia for the US
to impose economic sanction
against Eritrea by restricting the
Eritrean Missions from Collecting
2% Rehabilitation and Recovery
Tax (RRT) from Eritreans living
Abroad
“Meeting Between Assistant
Secretary Jendayi Frazer and
Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles
Zenawi, New York, 17 April 2008
He [Prime Minister Meles] said
the only effective way to approach
Eritrea would be to go after the flow
of remittance money, which he said
would get a response from Asmara
within two to three months if coupled
with other UNSC sanctions…”
4. On an attempt to give the
sanctions an “African Face” so
that it could be presented to the
International Community as an
IGAD/African request
“Meeting Between Ambassador
Susan Rice And Fesseha Tessema,
Ethiopia’s Charge D’affaires, New
York 13 August 2009
Ambassador Rice emphasized that
any new sanctions resolution should
be an Inter-Governmental Authority
on Development (IGAD) initiative..
She recalled IGAD’s prior lack of
consensus on a sanctions framework
for Eritrea during its June visit
to New York, and stated that any
new resolution should reflect the
common ground between Ethiopia,
Djibouti and Somalia.”
5. On pretext to be used and
how the Sanction resolutions can
be formulated
“Ambassador Rice’s Meeting
With Ethiopian Prime Minister
Meles Zenawi On September 21,
2009
Ambassador Rice asked Meles,
views on a potential UNSC
resolution creating a stand-alone
Eritrea sanctions regime, separate
from the existing Somalia sanctions
regime (UNSCR 1844) under which
Eritreans can be designated for
threatening the peace and stability
in Somalia, and violating Djibouti’s
border, among other sanctionable
actions. Meles strongly backs this
approach.”
6. On US officials Active and
leading role on imposing sanctions
against Eritrea and their attempt
to diplomatically isolate it
a) “Meeting Between US Deputy
Assistant Secretary of State Karl
Wycoff and Prime Minister Meles
Zinawi, Addis Ababa, 19 November
2009 Wycoff agreed that Eritrea
has shown no signs of changing
its behavior but suggested that the
broadening discussion of sanctions,
including Ambassador Rice’s
personal involvement at USUN,
has caught the attention of Eritrean
President Isaias. Wycoff added that
the USG has worked to undercut
support for Eritrea, including his
own visits to Gulf countries to enlist
their support in such activities.”
b) “Meeting between Ambassador
Rice and French Foreign Minister
Kouchner, New York, 7 December
2009.Ambassador Rice urged
Kouchner to support U.S. efforts
to impose Security Council
sanctions on Eritrean officials
who are undermining the Djibouti
agreement and giving active support
to the al-Shabaab terrorist group in
Somalia.”
c) “Meeting Between US Deputy
Assistant Secretary of State Karl
Wycoff and Djiboutian Prime
Minister Dileita Mohamed Dileita,
Djibouti, 13 December 2009DAS
Wycoff said that the U.S. remained
very concerned over Eritrea’s
“unhelpful” regional role, including
its support for al-Shabaab in Somalia
and its incursion across the border
with Djibout…DAS Wycoff assured
Dileita that senior U.S. officialsincluding Ambassador Rice and
A/S Carson-were closely following
and supporting the draft UNSC
resolution on sanction.
Eritrea Profile, Saturday, 20 February, 2016
8
Vol 22. No 101
Understanding the Zika Virus and
Yellow Fever
Semir Seid
Globally, individual and public health are areas of considerable research and investment. Communicable diseases, such as Yellow fever, and more recently, the Zika
virus, often garner broad attention while also giving rise to much concern. However, these two diseases are frequently not greatly understood by the general public.
To help provide greater awareness and better understanding, we contacted Dr. Araya Brhane, the Director of Communicable Diseases Control in Eritrea’s Ministry
of Health.
Dr. Araya, could you give us
a briefing on Zika and Yellow
fever?
These two diseases have a lot in
common, starting from the cause
of their emergence, where both
diseases are first seen in monkeys,
and then gradually in humans
through mosquitos. As far as the
cause is concerned, both are viral
and spread by mosquitos. Again,
their symptoms are more or less
similar. But they are different
in terms of the stage where the
infections become severe. The
factors for the outbreaks of these
diseases are many: climate change,
urbanization and resistance of
people can be mentioned.
Let’s turn to Zika…how did it
emerge initially?
The Zika virus was first seen in
1947 in the Zika forest of Uganda,
within a species of monkeys. Then
later on, after almost five years,
in 1952, the virus was first seen
in humans both in Uganda and
Tanzania, according to the WHO.
The main cause of the disease
and how problematic it is today?
This disease is caused by a virus
transmitted by mosquitoes known
as Aedes. The Aedes mosquito also
spreads dengue (locally labeled
“welcome”) and chikungunya
viruses. Zika is becoming a major
concern, as it can affect both
children and adults, where the
infection can lead to Gullian Bare
Syndrome (paralyzing of legs in
adults). It also has the potential to
harm newly born infants, where the
virus can be spread by the pregnant
women.
What are its symptoms?
People with Zika virus disease
usually have symptoms that can
include mild fever, skin rashes,
conjunctivitis, muscle and joint
pain, malaise or headaches. These
symptoms normally last for 2-7
days.
Can you tell us more about how
it affects newborns?
Zika virus can be easily
transmitted from an infected
mother to a baby in a womb. And
the signs are seen immediately after
birth, where the head of the child
becomes abnormally small in size
(termed as microcephaly). Brazil
is highly affected by this disease,
with symptoms of Zika for 450 out
of the 3 million born every year.
And how
transmitted?
exactly
is
it
There are three factors for
advancement or not of such
diseases. These are the agent, the
host and the environment. Where
there is balance between these
three, well and good. Otherwise,
the disease breaks out. The
good news is that Zika is not a
communicable disease (between
people); it is transmitted by the
Aedes mosquito, which has the
potential to bite throughout the day.
During the first week of infection,
Zika can be found in the blood and
passed from an infected person to
another through mosquito bites.
However, it can also be spread
from a pregnant mother onto her
child, and also through sexual
intercourse as per recent reports
from Latin America.
What can you tell us about
treatment and prevention?
Unfortunately,
no
exact
medication or vaccination for
Zika exists yet. If a person has the
disease, the treatment involves
attempting to lower the fever and
retaining one’s bodyweight and
balance. To stem spread, victims
must avoid mosquito bites during
the first week of illness.
Are there any precautions
people can take?
What all physicians and health
organizations are recommending
as prevention are to exercise
techniques being implemented
to prevent dengue fever (as the
mosquito that spreads dengue is
the same that brings Zika), and
to use chemical coated mosquito
nets. Additionally, people should
seal large water containers, fill-in
open spots that can keep water, and
maintain proper sanitation.
stage symptoms, but others can be
fully recovered in 10 to 14 days.
Final query on Zika, what do
you suggest should be done in
Eritrea?
As told earlier, it is transmitted
in the same ways as dengue, and
malaria. The female mosquito bites
a Yellow fever infected person
to spread the virus into another
person.
Honestly, the Zika outbreak,
with the mass movement of
people, can’t really be controlled.
Its similarity with the dengue fever
makes it a significant concern for
Eritrea. Dengue became a recent
phenomenon in our country; it was
first seen on the coastlines of the
Red Sea, and is still spreading to
most parts of Eritrea. The Ministry
of Health in Eritrea remarks that
the efforts undertaken to eradicate
malaria have paid off, and it is now
time to also focus on Zika. If we
can control the mosquito which can
transmit dengue [that is currently
in most parts of the country], then
indirectly we can help control Zika,
also. Importantly, prevention lies in
being proactive rather than reacting
after it actually takes place.
What about Yellow fever?
The name “yellow fever” comes
from its effects on patients. Yellow
is for color often found in victims’
eyes and skin, while fever is for the
high fever it brings. It has been one
of the world’s most fatal diseases.
Like Zika and Malaria, it is a viralcaused disease, and spread by
Aedes and Haemogogus mosquitos.
It can be infectious and immediate
blood signs can be noticed. Several
different species of the Aedes and
Haemogogus mosquitoes transmit
the virus. The mosquitoes either
breed around houses (domestic), in
the jungle (wild) or in both habitats
(semi-domestic).
The background of the disease?
Last December and January,
Angola had many people succumb
to the disease. Among the many
deaths, were 6 Eritrean citizens
residing in the country. I would
like to forward my condolences to
family of victims on the way.
How
is
transmitted?
According to the WHO, there are
around 580 million people living in
31 nations with areas where Yellow
fever may be found. Almost all of
these nations are located within the
tropical climate zone, often called
the Yellow fever belt. Annually,
around 200,000 people are infected
with Yellow fever and around
30,000 die, nearly 90% within
Africa
How about Yellow fever in
Eritrea?
The Ministry of Health states
that the disease is not generally
found in the country; however, it
is found in neighboring Sudan and
Ethiopia, so we should be vigilant.
As well, as long as the mosquito
that is responsible for spreading of
this disease is already in Eritrea,
then the vulnerability remains
growing.
Specific symptoms?
Generally, these occur in two
stages, in 3 to 6 or up to 14 days.
The first stage symptoms include
headache, backache, muscle and
joint pain, loss of appetite, vomiting
and the like. More or less they are
identical symptoms of malaria and
dengue so it becomes difficult for
one to differentiate them. This first
stage completely finishes its period
of infection in 2 to 7 days and the
patient stands straight again.
The second stage is a bit more
severe, affects around 15% of
infected patients, and might lead
to death. The symptoms are high
fever, bleeding from various parts
of the body, severe stomach pain
and vomiting. It can harm the liver,
kidneys and blood circulation
system. This stage can result in
death for 50% of those with second
Yellow
fever
Possibility of transmission from
person to person?
Not a chance! It’s only spread
through the mosquito.
What medications are available?
No special medication, but
special treatments are available
to help rehabilitate and recover
patients (back to their normal
state).
Any steps for people to be
proactive?
Definitely! A vaccination that
people need to take is available in
health facilities. It’s necessary to
take it 10 days before a person will
head to a Yellow fever affected area
(31 nations total). The vaccination
is good for life. People can find the
vaccination in the Asmara-Edaga
Hamus clinic (the only location in
Eritrea).
What do you suggest
transportation agencies?
to
They should be integrated with
the MOH and be well aware about
the diseases. They should spread
relevant information to the public,
as soon and as much as possible.
Final
points
recommendations?
or
For all citizens inside and outside,
the best prevention is to have
oneself vaccinated. It’s applicable
for anyone above 9 months old,
it’s safe, and its helps one can
resist the disease throughout their
lifetime. Additionally, the MOH
cautions people living in mosquito
prevalent areas to use chemically
coated mosquito nets.