Refugee camp hosting over 11,000 Eritrean refugees to be expanded
Addis Ababa, April 28, 2006 (WIC) - The Shemelba Refugee Camp, where over 11,000 Eritrean refugees are accommodated, would be expanded as the influx is on the rise, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) disclosed.
Senior Public Information Assistant with the Regional Liaison Office of UNHCR, Kisut Gebre-Egziabher, told WIC that the camp would be expanded to host additional 5,000 refugees.
He said the camp is overpopulated due to continued influx of refugees to northern Ethiopia from Eritrea. Currently, the camp is the only one with increasing population of refugees in the country.
According to Kisut , the influx was on average 400 people per month between March and May in 2005, while it is about 250 per month this year.
UNHCR has been closely working with the Authority for Refugees and Returnees Affairs on the expansion work expected to be finalized within this year, he stated.
Kisut further noted that the refugees have been getting the necessary protection from the government of Ethiopia and the Commission is rendering 15 kilograms of food rations per head in a month as well as health and sanitary provisions, among others.
UNHCR is seeking a durable solution to the problem of the refugees, Kisut said, adding that it has put in place elementary school facilities and children of school age are attending classes.
Shemelba is one of the seven refugee camps in the country, it was learnt.
Saturday, April 29, 2006
Eritrea wants border fixed; Ethiopia wants talks
Thursday, April 27, 2006 Posted: 1652 GMT (0052 HKT)
ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia (AP) -- Ethiopia's Prime Minister Meles Zenawi pressed neighboring Eritrea on Thursday to accept that negotiations are "the only sane option" for resolving the simmering tensions over the border between the two nations.
Meles was speaking after international mediators postponed talks that were scheduled for Friday in London to discuss the stalled demarcation of the border over which they went to war in 1998, fighting for two-and-a-half years. It was not immediately clear why the talks were delayed and no new date has been set.
Eritrea gained independence from Ethiopia in 1993 after a 30-year guerrilla war, but their 1,000-kilometer (621-mile) border was never settled.
"I very much hope the other side recognizes that the only sane option is to sit together and discuss issues and try to resolve them through dialogue by peaceful means," Meles told reporters. "My hope is that some progress will be made. In the end, all conflicts have to be resolved through dialogue."
Eritrea, however, rejected calls for negotiations, saying implementation of their 2000 peace agreement will resolve their border dispute peacefully and legally.
Under the deal, both countries agreed to let an international boundary commission rule on the location of their frontier. They also agreed that the ruling would be final and binding.
The commission issued its ruling in 2002, but the decision has not been implemented because of Ethiopia's refusal to accept the awarding of the town of Badme and other territories to Eritrea.
A frustrated Eritrea has said there is no need for more talks and that the international community should simply ensure the border ruling is implemented.
"A peaceful resolution involves accepting the decision of the boundary commission," Yemani Ghebremeskel, Eritrea's presidential chief of staff, said by telephone from the country's capital, Asmara. "Progress has been hampered every time because of Ethiopia's intransigence."
On March 10, lawyers for the two countries met members of the boundary commission for the first time in three years in an effort to resolve the stalemate. Eritrea, however, said after the talks that it was concerned that Ethiopia was trying to reopen negotiations instead of simply accepting the ruling on the frontier.
Eritrea was referring to a proposal, first made by Meles in 2004, that called for changes to the 2002 ruling, including exchanging land where villages may be divided by the border.
"Our position is well-known," Meles said. "There will be no surprises."
Ethiopia's proposals were illegal and unacceptable because they are calculated to undermine their binding peace agreement, Yemani said.
Copyright 2006 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia (AP) -- Ethiopia's Prime Minister Meles Zenawi pressed neighboring Eritrea on Thursday to accept that negotiations are "the only sane option" for resolving the simmering tensions over the border between the two nations.
Meles was speaking after international mediators postponed talks that were scheduled for Friday in London to discuss the stalled demarcation of the border over which they went to war in 1998, fighting for two-and-a-half years. It was not immediately clear why the talks were delayed and no new date has been set.
Eritrea gained independence from Ethiopia in 1993 after a 30-year guerrilla war, but their 1,000-kilometer (621-mile) border was never settled.
"I very much hope the other side recognizes that the only sane option is to sit together and discuss issues and try to resolve them through dialogue by peaceful means," Meles told reporters. "My hope is that some progress will be made. In the end, all conflicts have to be resolved through dialogue."
Eritrea, however, rejected calls for negotiations, saying implementation of their 2000 peace agreement will resolve their border dispute peacefully and legally.
Under the deal, both countries agreed to let an international boundary commission rule on the location of their frontier. They also agreed that the ruling would be final and binding.
The commission issued its ruling in 2002, but the decision has not been implemented because of Ethiopia's refusal to accept the awarding of the town of Badme and other territories to Eritrea.
A frustrated Eritrea has said there is no need for more talks and that the international community should simply ensure the border ruling is implemented.
"A peaceful resolution involves accepting the decision of the boundary commission," Yemani Ghebremeskel, Eritrea's presidential chief of staff, said by telephone from the country's capital, Asmara. "Progress has been hampered every time because of Ethiopia's intransigence."
On March 10, lawyers for the two countries met members of the boundary commission for the first time in three years in an effort to resolve the stalemate. Eritrea, however, said after the talks that it was concerned that Ethiopia was trying to reopen negotiations instead of simply accepting the ruling on the frontier.
Eritrea was referring to a proposal, first made by Meles in 2004, that called for changes to the 2002 ruling, including exchanging land where villages may be divided by the border.
"Our position is well-known," Meles said. "There will be no surprises."
Ethiopia's proposals were illegal and unacceptable because they are calculated to undermine their binding peace agreement, Yemani said.
Copyright 2006 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Wednesday, April 26, 2006
IFJ Condemns Eritrean Authorities Following “Bizarre and Cruel” Reimprisonment of Local Reporter
09/12/2005
The International Federation of Journalists today condemned the “cruel and indifferent” actions of the Eritrean government following the recent release and re-imprisonment of independent reporter Dawit Issac in Asmara.
The IFJ was reacting to the news that after Dawit Isaac, a journalist with Swedish and Eritrean dual nationality and founder of the now-banned weekly Setit, had been released from prison in mid-November he was put back in prison again two days after he was set free.
“This has been a bizarre and disturbing cycle of events,” said Aidan White, IFJ General Secretary. “We must know if Dawit was ever officially released and if so why he was reimprisoned without clear explanations”.
On 19 November, Dawit was released from Karcheli Prison in the Eritrean capital of Asmara after more than four years in prison. However, he did not receive permission to leave the country and on 21 November he was re-incarcerated in the midst of reports that he had only been released to undergo medical examinations. Dawit was just able to telephone his wife and friends who have found refuge in Sweden, telling them he had just been freed from Karcheli prison in Asmara when, without explanation, he was put back in prison.
Both Dawit Isaac and 12 other colleagues have been locked away without trial and without access to his family and colleagues since the crackdown on the private media by Eritrean authorities in September 2001.
The IFJ is calling for the case of Dawit and the fate of his 12 colleagues to be discussed at the upcoming meeting of the European Union Foreign Ministers on 12 December in Brussels, in which the political situation in Eritrea is foreseen on the agenda.
“We are very disappointed at this tragic turn of events and hope that European leaders can initiate talks with the Eritrean authorities to finally achieve the lasting freedom of all of our colleagues jailed in Eritrea,” said Arne Konig, Vice President of the Swedish Journalists’ Union and Chair of the European Federation of Journalists. “Their continued incarceration is a gross violation of human rights and we will push for all 13 journalists to be released.
The Swedish Union of Journalists, backed by the International Federation of Journalists, had been campaigning vigorously for Dawit´s release in a barrage of letters and protests. “We are dismayed by recent developments and applaud ongoing efforts by our Swedish colleagues to secure the release of Dawit,” said White.
For further information contact: +32 2 235 2207The IFJ represents over 500,000 journalists in more than 110 countries
The International Federation of Journalists today condemned the “cruel and indifferent” actions of the Eritrean government following the recent release and re-imprisonment of independent reporter Dawit Issac in Asmara.
The IFJ was reacting to the news that after Dawit Isaac, a journalist with Swedish and Eritrean dual nationality and founder of the now-banned weekly Setit, had been released from prison in mid-November he was put back in prison again two days after he was set free.
“This has been a bizarre and disturbing cycle of events,” said Aidan White, IFJ General Secretary. “We must know if Dawit was ever officially released and if so why he was reimprisoned without clear explanations”.
On 19 November, Dawit was released from Karcheli Prison in the Eritrean capital of Asmara after more than four years in prison. However, he did not receive permission to leave the country and on 21 November he was re-incarcerated in the midst of reports that he had only been released to undergo medical examinations. Dawit was just able to telephone his wife and friends who have found refuge in Sweden, telling them he had just been freed from Karcheli prison in Asmara when, without explanation, he was put back in prison.
Both Dawit Isaac and 12 other colleagues have been locked away without trial and without access to his family and colleagues since the crackdown on the private media by Eritrean authorities in September 2001.
The IFJ is calling for the case of Dawit and the fate of his 12 colleagues to be discussed at the upcoming meeting of the European Union Foreign Ministers on 12 December in Brussels, in which the political situation in Eritrea is foreseen on the agenda.
“We are very disappointed at this tragic turn of events and hope that European leaders can initiate talks with the Eritrean authorities to finally achieve the lasting freedom of all of our colleagues jailed in Eritrea,” said Arne Konig, Vice President of the Swedish Journalists’ Union and Chair of the European Federation of Journalists. “Their continued incarceration is a gross violation of human rights and we will push for all 13 journalists to be released.
The Swedish Union of Journalists, backed by the International Federation of Journalists, had been campaigning vigorously for Dawit´s release in a barrage of letters and protests. “We are dismayed by recent developments and applaud ongoing efforts by our Swedish colleagues to secure the release of Dawit,” said White.
For further information contact: +32 2 235 2207The IFJ represents over 500,000 journalists in more than 110 countries
Saturday, April 22, 2006
Don't support the organized destruction of your beloved country
By Habtom Yohannes
April 13 April 2006
It is your Eritrean and Swedish constitutional right to listen to the right hand of the dictator Isaias Afworki who is responsible for the indefinite incarceration of the Swedish-Eritrean national Dawit Isaac. His wife and children are living in Sweden among you. Would you dare to ask Yemane Gebreab about the whereabouts of Dawit Isaac and the other prisoners of conscience? And what their crimes are? And when they will be brought not to special kangaroo courts but to an independent constitutional court. If you do so, you might have an excuse to visit such a money-collecting meetings.
My respected compatriots,
These days you will go from different parts of Europe to Sweden to attend a meeting organised by the sole party in Eritrea: the Peoples Front for Democracy and Justice (PFDJ). Mr. Yemane Gebreab (Monkey) will address the meeting and probably the Eritrean Ambassador to Sweden (Ato Araya Desta ?) will sit on the right side of Ato Yemane Gebreab and Dr. Musse Misghina will sit on the left side of the party ideologue. Marx, Lenin and Engels.
What do you expect to hear from Mr. Yemane Gebreab and his cohorts? Those of you who have been visiting similar meetings in the past could dream and jot down blindly what the speech will be. Let alone from Yemane Gebreab nothing new is to be expected from President Isaias Afwerki of PFDJ. To expect something new from the apostles of Isaias is like expecting something new from the old mantra's of Mengistoe Hailemariam.
Let me guess some of the ingredients of Ato Yemane's Easter speech:
{{ 1. Ethiopia's refusal to accept the final & binding of the decision of EEBC,
2. Weyane's intransigence; the huge internal problems of Ethiopia. That Weyane is undemocratic and unconstitutional,
3. The West led by the United States of America has been pampering Ethiopia at the cost of Eritrea and the Eritrean people,
4. The Eritrean government has successfully foiled different initiatives to derail the legality of the EEBC-decision,
5. The international community, except Libya, China, Cuba, North Korea and the Republic of Belarus (Lukashenko), is the enemy of the Eritrean people,
6. Against all these odds the Eritrean Government together with the Eritrean Defence Forces will foil these international conspiracies against Eritrea. We will certainly foil them if you, our youth in the Diaspora, stand with us in this patriotic struggle. You have done so in the past - we are very grateful - for that, and we are certain you will continue to support us until victory is achieved,
7. We know the Weyanes, supported by Eritrean sell-outs and traitors will not rest until they seize the ports of Eritrea. But this is only a dream as long us you remain with us,…etcetra.
8. The wonderful achievements of Warsay Yikaalo… }}
He will add to these verses the marvellous economic achievements of the country on the economic level (oil, gold), infrastructural accomplishments of PFDJ and the harvest that feeds not only the Eritrean people but the whole continent. We have offered the hungry Ethiopian people help but they have rejected it,
On the diplomatic level we have been achieving wonderful results. Even the international community and the ever-brotherly government of the Sudan have asked us to bring peace in The Sudan. And as ever before we are doing our best to achieve peace and democracy in our neighbour Sudan,
After the unforgettable speech of Mr. Yemane Gebreab, you will go the dance floor (wegah tibel leyti, dance until down) and Sunday and Monday will arrive. And nothing, not a yota, will change. You have "enjoyed" the festivities, PFDJ will earn money but the Eritrean people will continue to suffer under the regime you support blindly.
Be sure that Ato Yeman Gebreab won't talk about:
1. Why the Eritrean regime has failed diplomatically on almost all fields, even on the border issue while Eritrea has the moral ground on every bit of it?
2. The Constitution of Eritrea (ask him when it will be implemented?),
3. Why the only Eritrean psychiatrist and Eritrean orthodox clergy, Dr. Fitsum Gebrengus has been in detention without any trial together with other intellectual clergy of the Orthodox Church of Eritrea?
4. Why His Holiness, the Eritrean Patriarch Abune Antonios, is removed from power by laymen, like Yuftahe Dimetros with the support of the Eritrean regime.
5. Why the Eritrean regimes have been persecuting believers for believing what they believe as long as they abide by the law, which is none-existent in Eritrea since the Constitution is not implemented. You can’t run a country for ever by decrees and charters?
6. Why the Eritrean regime doesn’t bring the G-11 and other prisoners of conscience to trial?
7. If all the prisoners of conscience are alive; if they are at all alive, why they don't get any visit from their family?
8. Why are innumerable Eritrean youth flocking to neighbouring countries, even to Ethiopia?
9. Why are the Eritrean peoples cursing the Eritrean leaders daily for the predicaments they are in?
10. Why do we have toothless "Eritrean Parliament" and "Eritrean Cabinet of Ministers"? Why is the budget of the country unknown to the Eritrean Parliament or to anybody else except to Isaias and his cohorts?
11. Why are generals and pseudo generals running the country instead of capable administrators?
12. Why are university teachers, university students fleeing the country whenever they get the chance to do so; the courageous students in South Africa?
13. Does the respected gentleman Yemane Gebreab know the whereabouts of the Eritrean journalists -some of whom former fighters for independence like Fessahaye Yohannes, Joshua- who disappeared in 2001 without trace? As the G11 and other prisoners of conscience, nobody knows where they are imprisoned and if they are alive? 5 years long in prison!
14. The Eritrean-Swedish journalist Dawit Isaac is one of them! Ask Yemane Gebreab about him! The wife and children of Dawit Isaac are in Sweden where you are listening to him who is responsible for the misery of the country.
15. Yemane Gebreab won't talk about responsibility and transparency. For they all are accountable to the only god in Eritrea: Isaias Afwerki.
And much more sensitive issues won't be raised. The organisers, the PFDJ, will ask for your money and not for your vote! They are not interested in your vote. They have confiscated your vote without your consent.
My Eritrean youth wake up! Please don't cooperate anymore in the organised destruction of your country. History and I hope your conscience too will hold you accountable for keeping your eyes blind and your ears deaf for the sufferings of your people.
Save Journey to Sweden and back home.
Have a blessed Easter.
And remember those Eritreans who are going to "celeberate" Easter in the dungeons of Ato Yemane Gebreab and Ato Isaias Afwerki. Please ask about them!
Reactions are welcome: habtomy@asmarino.com
Habtom Yohannes
April 13, 2006
April 13 April 2006
It is your Eritrean and Swedish constitutional right to listen to the right hand of the dictator Isaias Afworki who is responsible for the indefinite incarceration of the Swedish-Eritrean national Dawit Isaac. His wife and children are living in Sweden among you. Would you dare to ask Yemane Gebreab about the whereabouts of Dawit Isaac and the other prisoners of conscience? And what their crimes are? And when they will be brought not to special kangaroo courts but to an independent constitutional court. If you do so, you might have an excuse to visit such a money-collecting meetings.
My respected compatriots,
These days you will go from different parts of Europe to Sweden to attend a meeting organised by the sole party in Eritrea: the Peoples Front for Democracy and Justice (PFDJ). Mr. Yemane Gebreab (Monkey) will address the meeting and probably the Eritrean Ambassador to Sweden (Ato Araya Desta ?) will sit on the right side of Ato Yemane Gebreab and Dr. Musse Misghina will sit on the left side of the party ideologue. Marx, Lenin and Engels.
What do you expect to hear from Mr. Yemane Gebreab and his cohorts? Those of you who have been visiting similar meetings in the past could dream and jot down blindly what the speech will be. Let alone from Yemane Gebreab nothing new is to be expected from President Isaias Afwerki of PFDJ. To expect something new from the apostles of Isaias is like expecting something new from the old mantra's of Mengistoe Hailemariam.
Let me guess some of the ingredients of Ato Yemane's Easter speech:
{{ 1. Ethiopia's refusal to accept the final & binding of the decision of EEBC,
2. Weyane's intransigence; the huge internal problems of Ethiopia. That Weyane is undemocratic and unconstitutional,
3. The West led by the United States of America has been pampering Ethiopia at the cost of Eritrea and the Eritrean people,
4. The Eritrean government has successfully foiled different initiatives to derail the legality of the EEBC-decision,
5. The international community, except Libya, China, Cuba, North Korea and the Republic of Belarus (Lukashenko), is the enemy of the Eritrean people,
6. Against all these odds the Eritrean Government together with the Eritrean Defence Forces will foil these international conspiracies against Eritrea. We will certainly foil them if you, our youth in the Diaspora, stand with us in this patriotic struggle. You have done so in the past - we are very grateful - for that, and we are certain you will continue to support us until victory is achieved,
7. We know the Weyanes, supported by Eritrean sell-outs and traitors will not rest until they seize the ports of Eritrea. But this is only a dream as long us you remain with us,…etcetra.
8. The wonderful achievements of Warsay Yikaalo… }}
He will add to these verses the marvellous economic achievements of the country on the economic level (oil, gold), infrastructural accomplishments of PFDJ and the harvest that feeds not only the Eritrean people but the whole continent. We have offered the hungry Ethiopian people help but they have rejected it,
On the diplomatic level we have been achieving wonderful results. Even the international community and the ever-brotherly government of the Sudan have asked us to bring peace in The Sudan. And as ever before we are doing our best to achieve peace and democracy in our neighbour Sudan,
After the unforgettable speech of Mr. Yemane Gebreab, you will go the dance floor (wegah tibel leyti, dance until down) and Sunday and Monday will arrive. And nothing, not a yota, will change. You have "enjoyed" the festivities, PFDJ will earn money but the Eritrean people will continue to suffer under the regime you support blindly.
Be sure that Ato Yeman Gebreab won't talk about:
1. Why the Eritrean regime has failed diplomatically on almost all fields, even on the border issue while Eritrea has the moral ground on every bit of it?
2. The Constitution of Eritrea (ask him when it will be implemented?),
3. Why the only Eritrean psychiatrist and Eritrean orthodox clergy, Dr. Fitsum Gebrengus has been in detention without any trial together with other intellectual clergy of the Orthodox Church of Eritrea?
4. Why His Holiness, the Eritrean Patriarch Abune Antonios, is removed from power by laymen, like Yuftahe Dimetros with the support of the Eritrean regime.
5. Why the Eritrean regimes have been persecuting believers for believing what they believe as long as they abide by the law, which is none-existent in Eritrea since the Constitution is not implemented. You can’t run a country for ever by decrees and charters?
6. Why the Eritrean regime doesn’t bring the G-11 and other prisoners of conscience to trial?
7. If all the prisoners of conscience are alive; if they are at all alive, why they don't get any visit from their family?
8. Why are innumerable Eritrean youth flocking to neighbouring countries, even to Ethiopia?
9. Why are the Eritrean peoples cursing the Eritrean leaders daily for the predicaments they are in?
10. Why do we have toothless "Eritrean Parliament" and "Eritrean Cabinet of Ministers"? Why is the budget of the country unknown to the Eritrean Parliament or to anybody else except to Isaias and his cohorts?
11. Why are generals and pseudo generals running the country instead of capable administrators?
12. Why are university teachers, university students fleeing the country whenever they get the chance to do so; the courageous students in South Africa?
13. Does the respected gentleman Yemane Gebreab know the whereabouts of the Eritrean journalists -some of whom former fighters for independence like Fessahaye Yohannes, Joshua- who disappeared in 2001 without trace? As the G11 and other prisoners of conscience, nobody knows where they are imprisoned and if they are alive? 5 years long in prison!
14. The Eritrean-Swedish journalist Dawit Isaac is one of them! Ask Yemane Gebreab about him! The wife and children of Dawit Isaac are in Sweden where you are listening to him who is responsible for the misery of the country.
15. Yemane Gebreab won't talk about responsibility and transparency. For they all are accountable to the only god in Eritrea: Isaias Afwerki.
And much more sensitive issues won't be raised. The organisers, the PFDJ, will ask for your money and not for your vote! They are not interested in your vote. They have confiscated your vote without your consent.
My Eritrean youth wake up! Please don't cooperate anymore in the organised destruction of your country. History and I hope your conscience too will hold you accountable for keeping your eyes blind and your ears deaf for the sufferings of your people.
Save Journey to Sweden and back home.
Have a blessed Easter.
And remember those Eritreans who are going to "celeberate" Easter in the dungeons of Ato Yemane Gebreab and Ato Isaias Afwerki. Please ask about them!
Reactions are welcome: habtomy@asmarino.com
Habtom Yohannes
April 13, 2006
Thursday, April 20, 2006
Analysis: Eritrea's 'public distribution system' tested by adversity
Ravinder RenaSpecial to the Middle East TimesApril 20, 2006MAI-NEFHI, Eritrea -- The Eritrea government pledged last year to reduce the inflation rate. Inflation, which had remained manageable following the country's independence in 1993, has been consistently high since 1998 mainly as a result of the war and drought, monetary expansion for deficit financing, and the depreciation of the Nakfa. Prices of many essential commodities have jumped by several hundred percent owing to the 1998-2000 border war with Ethiopia. Unsurprisingly, the poor have been hit hardest. Agricultural growth has fluctuated significantly year-by-year, largely due to weather conditions, while Eritrea's food security has not improved. But greater rainfall last year helped the agricultural sector and bettered food security in the country. In line with its taking the challenge in May 2005 to lower inflation, the Eritrean government established the Hidri Distribution Company along with Dukan Rithawi Waga, or "Fair Price Shops", to distribute sugar, sorghum, wheat, the cereal taff, coffee, tea powder, lentils and other essential items, at below-market prices. The government directed state-owned Hidri Distribution to sell these foods at cut prices - some commodities as low as 50 percent under market prices. In this way the government has been able to hold prices down. A public distribution system (PDS) was set up and based on purchasing goods from farmers at low prices, thereby both providing farmers with guaranteed sales and households with food grain at minimum prices, while creating buffer stocks. This method has already worked successfully in densely populated countries like India, China and many other developing countries. The PDS is unable to provide all the answers, however, to Eritrea's food, fiscal, welfare and development policy needs. Despite it achieving a fairly good level of production in cereals, food insecurity in Eritrea continues to trouble some 1.5 million people. Drought results in malnutrition and acute distress every lean season. This has been acutely so for the last six years. And food insecurity is worsening every season in Eritrea. This widespread problem demands long-term measures, structural-institutional changes and a rewriting of priorities, policies and systems of socio-economic management. Several leading policies and programs, such as the Food Security Strategy and the Poverty Alleviation Strategy, are also helping by accelerating food production. But even though dampening market prices has increased the volume of procured and unsold grain, it has become clear that the production increase will not be sufficient to eradicate hunger. The cost to the state to guarantee minimum support prices to growers can be considered as a consumer subsidy only if the food is actually purchased by the target households. There has been an involuntary addition to food stocks beyond the buffer requirements, brought about by ignoring the price-income frontier or the affordability and preference pattern of the target users. Products supplied by PDS have been diverted to the wealthier sections of the population. Can any public expenditure that does not reach and benefit the target persons, be treated as a 'subsidy' for them? Of course not. A deficit becomes a subsidy only if that service is consumed by the intended citizens. Anyone may shop at Fair Price Shops, including the wealthy and foreign residents. But it would be better to target the poor - and exclude the successful businessmen, highly paid employees, farmers with marketable output - by means of special entitlement cards, distributed directly by officials through a door-to-door survey in each village and slum. This approach will reduce the government burden and stop the diversion of goods away from the underprivileged. Furthermore, other essential items may be added to the existing list of commodities, which can further control the prices. This analysis of PDS mechanics and its interface with households as consuming entities is especially relevant in light of recent developments with the Fair Price Shops in Eritrea. Ravinder Rena is an assistant professor of economics at the Eritrea Institute of Technology and Teacher Education in Mai-Nefhi, Eritrea
Saturday, April 08, 2006
وسط غياب المنظمات الدولية : تزايد تدفقات اللاجئين الإرتريين إلى السودان
كسلا : وكالاتقدم وفد برلماني بالسودان، صوراً قاتمة للأوضاع الصحية وأوضاع اللاجئين بولايتي كسلا والقضارف، واكد استمرار تدفقات اللاجئين الارتريين الى البلاد، في وقت تراجعت فيه المنظمات الدولية عن النهوض بأدوارها تجاههم.
قال نائب رئيس لجنة الشؤون الانسانية بالمجلس الوطني، حسب الرسول عامر، لـ «الصحافة» ان وفد مشتركاً من لجنته ولجنة الصحة وتنمية المجتمع انهى زيارة اخيراً، الى ولايتي القضارف وكسلا، وقف خلالها على اوضاع النازحين واللاجئين والاوضاع الصحية بالولايتين، مبيناً ان معسكرات اللاجئين التي تأوى اكثر من (76) ألف لاجيء تعاني مشكلات حقيقية تتمثل في انعدام المياه الصالحة وعدم توفر الرعاية الصحية لهم، مما يدفعهم الى الذهاب الى المدن الكبيرة لتلقي العلاج، فضلاً عن اعتمادهم على قطع الاشجار للحصول على القوت، مما يلقي بتأثيرات سالبة على البيئة.ودعا عامر، المنظمات الدولية التي تخلت عن دورها - على حد تعبيره - لتحمل مسؤوليتها.وذكر ان تدفقات اللاجئين الارتريين لازالت مستمرة بمعدل 40 - 60 شخصا من صغار السن والنساء في اليوم، مشيراً الى انحسار أعداد اللاجئين المحصورين في المعسكرات لتسللهم الى المدن الكبرى، ومن بينها الخرطوم.
Wednesday, April 05, 2006
Eritrea blames power cuts on supplier’s shortage of oil
Friday 31 March 2006 16:30.
Mar 31, 2006 (ASMARA) — Eritrea blamed recent severe power cuts on a supplier’s shortage of lubricant oil, denying speculation the outages were caused by a lack of foreign currency to buy fuel to generate power.
"The suppliers of this lubricant oil informed all the countries who import it that for a short time there will be a shortage of it," Information Minister Ali Abdu said.
"The ministry of energy has meticulously planned the distribution time frame of electricity in order not to affect the life and work of the citizens," he told AFP. "In the meantime, the ministry is also engaged in a rural electrification project in 60 villages."
In towns such as the capital Asmara power cuts were extremely rare before this month, but since then they have been occurring almost every day, usually in the evenings for around three hours.
Several diplomatic sources said the government was facing an acute foreign currency shortage and that the cuts could be linked to difficulties in financing the import of diesel to fuel the country’s main electric plant.
But Ali Abdu denied this.
"The cuts are not related to a shortage of diesel and they will not last a long time," he said. "It is a temporary measure until the suppliers can provide more lubricant oil."
Diesel in petrol stations in Eritrea has been rationed since last year. Several taxi drivers said that until last week they were allowed 100 litres (26 gallons) of diesel a month, but that since it had been reduced by half.
"I’ll have to buy the rest on the black market," one taxi driver said.
Mar 31, 2006 (ASMARA) — Eritrea blamed recent severe power cuts on a supplier’s shortage of lubricant oil, denying speculation the outages were caused by a lack of foreign currency to buy fuel to generate power.
"The suppliers of this lubricant oil informed all the countries who import it that for a short time there will be a shortage of it," Information Minister Ali Abdu said.
"The ministry of energy has meticulously planned the distribution time frame of electricity in order not to affect the life and work of the citizens," he told AFP. "In the meantime, the ministry is also engaged in a rural electrification project in 60 villages."
In towns such as the capital Asmara power cuts were extremely rare before this month, but since then they have been occurring almost every day, usually in the evenings for around three hours.
Several diplomatic sources said the government was facing an acute foreign currency shortage and that the cuts could be linked to difficulties in financing the import of diesel to fuel the country’s main electric plant.
But Ali Abdu denied this.
"The cuts are not related to a shortage of diesel and they will not last a long time," he said. "It is a temporary measure until the suppliers can provide more lubricant oil."
Diesel in petrol stations in Eritrea has been rationed since last year. Several taxi drivers said that until last week they were allowed 100 litres (26 gallons) of diesel a month, but that since it had been reduced by half.
"I’ll have to buy the rest on the black market," one taxi driver said.
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