Special Edition

No. 25 Saturday, August 29, 2020 Pages 4 Desert locust swarm in Northern region Soil and water conservation The administrator of Foro sub- ready for distribution to farmers, zone, Mr. Osman Arafa, called on Mr. Tesfay Tewolde, head of the the residents to finalize preparation Ministry of Agriculture branch in for the water and soil conservation the sub-zone, called on the farmers program that is set to begin in the to finalize preparation and the coming month of September. administrations to submit request for agricultural machinery service. Mr. Osman made the call at a meeting he conducted with Pointing out that effort is administrators and managing underway to put under control directors as well as village locust swarm migrating from coordinators of the administrative neighboring countries, Mr. Osman areas of Zula, Afta, Hadish called on the residents to stay Airomale, Malka and Roberia. vigilant and immediately report to concerned institutions in case of At the meeting, Mr. Osman new occurrence of locust swarm. indicated that the program will include construction of terraces and According to document from the water diversion schemes as well as Ministry of Agriculture in the sub- agricultural infrastructure. zone, in Foro sub-zone there is 83 Desert locust swarm originating to 80 hectares of land, Mr. Tesfit on controlling desert locust swarm Indicating that select seeds are hectares of arable land. from neighboring countries of Gerezgiher from the Ministry of invasion. and Yemen has been Agriculture branch in the region detected in small scale in some said that the swarm is spreading to areas of the Northern Red Sea other areas and that strong effort Region. is being made to put in control the infestation. Controlling communicable diseases Noting that the prevalence of The Tesenei Research Center is significantly contributing in identifying communicable diseases that are the desert locust swarm in the sub- Ms. Asmeret Abraha, Governor transmitted by mosquitoes in the Gash Barka region. zones of Gelalo, Foro, , of the Northern Red Sea Shieb, Afabet and Karora was not Region, on her part called on the Indicating that the center that was established in 2000 has been concentrated in categorizing the types of beyond expectation, the Ministry of administrations and the public mosquitoes and new cases of communicable diseases transmitted by mosquitoes, Mr. Awet Mebrahtu, head Agriculture branch in the Northern to make coordinated endeavor of the center, said that the center is registering commendable result to that regard. Red Sea Region informed that the with the agricultural experts and Ministry has already mobilized members of the Defense Forces to Mr. Awet went on to say that the center is significantly contributing in developing the professional the necessary resource and that put under control the infestation. capacity of the health practitioners and in controlling the prevalence of communicable diseases. integrated effort with the residents and members of the Defense Forces It is to be recalled that the is being exerted to put under control Ministry of Agriculture had the infestation. organized training programs for Pointing out that the desert locust staff members of the Ministry of Crops in Halhal sub-zone in good condition swarm has been stretched from 70 Agriculture and Defense Forces The head of the Ministry of types of crops cultivated on more to conduct sustainable water Agriculture in Halhal sub-zone, than 6 thousand hectares of land and soil conservation activities Mr. Woldemichael Berhane, said are in promising situation. with a view to boost agricultural that crops and grazing areas in the production. sub-zone are in good condition. Mr. Woldemichael called on the Announcement from the farmers to conduct regular follow The residents on their part Indicating that starting from up on their crops until harvest and expressed readiness to reinforce the month of April until mid- report to nearby related institution participation in all popular Ministry of Health August 443 mm of rainfall has in case of observance of pests. activities aimed at improving Two patients have been diagnosed positive for COVID-19 in tests precipitated and that the various He also called on the residents their livelihoods. carried out today at Adibara Quarantine Centers in Gash Barka Region.

The patients are nationals who returned from Sudan recently.

On the other hand, eight patients who were receiving medical treatment in hospitals in Gash Barka Region have recovered fully and were released from these facilities today.

The total number of recovered patients to-date stands at 284.

The total number of confirmed cases in the country to-date is 317.

Ministry of Health Asmara 27 August 2020 Profile, Saturday, August 29, 2020 No.25 2

Bahti Meskerem: More than Just Another Day

By: Dr. Fikrejesus Amahazion largely relieved that the country the dominant language of was not dismembered. They also Ethiopia, being made the official generally sought to make the best language. Press freedoms It is nearly the end of August. of the federal structure. The terms were abolished, were The beginning of September will of the international resolution forced to dissolve their political soon be upon us. In Eritrea, that stipulating that Eritrea was to be parties and trade unions, and generally means several things. an autonomous unit meant that whole industries were relocated That the rainy and wet keremti Eritrea was to possess legislative, from Asmara to Addis Ababa. (summer) season is almost at executive, and judicial powers its end, ready to give way to the in the field of domestic affairs, Eritreans were also subjected to quewi (harvesting) season. That a while the jurisdiction of Ethiopia state repression, severe violence, vast swathe of the countryside and was to extend to defense, foreign and persecution, while all forms mountains will soon be covered affairs, and international trade. of civil disobedience, opposition, in sheets of green and dotted dissent, and resistance, which by colourful embaba (flowers). However, Ethiopia, an absolute had largely been peaceful and That juicy and delicious beles monarchy ruled by Emperor involved broad segments of fruit can be found on every Haile Selassie, viewed the the Eritrean population, were street corner. That Yohannes and federal structure with disdain and forcefully crushed. Assassination Meskel, those special festive contempt. Almost immediately attempts against nationalists occasions, are around the corner. from the outset, the Emperor became common and routine.

began to violate the terms of Some of the most prominent Of course, however, on top the federal arrangement; just Eritrean nationalists, such as of these seasonal signposts, what Hamid Idris Awate fired the first shots of Eritrea’s armed struggle. nineteen days after the federal Woldeab Woldemariam, Ibrahim also makes this period especially arrangement was officially Sultan, and Idris Mohammed important in Eritrea is that it is gender, ethnicity, religion, or ratified and came into force, Adem, were forced into exile. the anniversary of the beginning other distinction. For Eritreans, After a lengthy international the imperial regime committed From abroad they continued of the nation’s long and bitter it offers an important opportunity process seeking to develop an its first violation, through their opposition to Ethiopia’s armed struggle for independence. to reflect upon and remember appropriate solution to the Eritrea Proclamation 130. The Emperor’s expansionism and helped to Bahti Meskerem, or September the monumental contributions, question, on 2 December 1950, views of the arrangement calling establish resistance groups. 1st, is a national holiday and immense sacrifices, and heroic United Nations Resolution 390 for Eritrea’s autonomy were an occasion filled with deep exploits of so many to bring about (V) was passed by the UNGA. made unmistakably clear in It is worth noting that Eritrea patriotism and utmost pride. It what to many for so long seemed Resolution 390 (V), which was a speech he delivered to the had been guaranteed a review of is among the most significant highly unlikely, if not essentially backed and sponsored by the Eritrean Assembly on 22 March its case by the United Nations if days on the annual calendar for impossible: the defeat of Africa’s United States, extinguished 1955, where he declared: “There Ethiopia violated the international all Eritreans, regardless of age, largest, best-eqauipped army and Eritreans’ hopes and aspirations for the achievement of independence independence, federating Eritrea are no internal or external affairs resolution. Despite the guarantee, with Ethiopia as “an autonomous as far as the office of his Imperial and even though many Eritrean On 1 September 1961, now unit ... under the sovereignty Majesty’s representative is political leaders and activists, on 59 years ago, the Eritrean of the Ethiopian Crown.” concerned, and there will be numerous occasions, appealed independence movement none in the future. The affairs to and petitioned the United transitioned from street Although the Eritrean people’s of Eritrea concern Ethiopia Nations in protest of Ethiopia’s demonstrations, non-violence inviolable and inalienable right as a whole and the Emperor.” steady dismantling of the federal and peaceful protest, to active, to self-determination was denied, Eventually, the entire Eritrean arrangement, the United Nations Published Every armed resistance. Years before, contrary to principles recognized constitution would be replaced, and the international community Published Every on 20 September 1949, the United by the United Nations and while the Eritrean flag was remained silent and failed to SaturdayPublished & Wednesday Every replaced by that of Ethiopia. muster a response. Finally, in Wednesday & Saturday Nations General Assembly unlike the other Italian colonies Saturday & Wednesday (UNGA) decided to send a that received independence at Eritreans were also banned November 1962, the imperial second commission of inquiry the end of World War II (i.e., from speaking or using their regime dissolved the Eritrean own languages (such as Arabic parliament under force of arms and Acting Editor into Eritrea to explore a potential Libya and Somalia [Italian Acting Editor “solution [to] the problem of Somaliland]), Eritreans were and Tigrinya), with Amharic, annexed Eritrea, proclaiming it as Amanuel Mesfun Eritrea.” In the delegation’s the empire’s fourteenth province. [email protected] Mesfun Again, the United Nations and [email protected] subsequent report about their visit to the country, Sir Zafrulla, the international community voiced no objections and failed P.O.Box: 247 the Pakistani representative, P.O.Box: 247 warned, “An independent Eritrea to act in response to this flagrant Tel: 11-41-14 breach of international law. Fax: 12-77-49 would obviously be better able Fax: 12-77-49 to contribute to the maintenance E-mail: of peace (and security) than an It was within this historical [email protected]@[email protected] zena.gov.er Eritrea federated with Ethiopia backdrop that on 1 September 1961, harbenya (patriot) Hamid Advertisement: 12-50-13 against the true wishes of the people. To deny the people of Idris Awate and a small band of fighters, armed with only a Layout Eritrea their elementary right to Layout independence would be to sow handful of old rifles, fired the first shots of the armed struggle AAzmerazmera BerhaneBerhane the seeds of discord and create a Sara Alem threat in that sensitive area of the AidaSara JoharAlem Middle East.” These words would prove to be highly prophetic. continued on page 4 Eritrea Profile, Saturday, August 29, 2020 No.25 3

When Man askedh imself, “W ho am I ?” Natnael Yebio W. The goal of human evolution, may be aptly called a universal which was to distinguish man from consciousness, a consciousness that The Internet is completing the the apes, was the waking up of will help us to think universally, in global neuron network in the man from his animalistic slumber unity with our interstellar brothers same way that the brain had done and his transformation to become and sisters. And this journey along millions of years ago to complete a rational animal. In other words, the path of consciousness will its neuron-integrated circuit to man had developed enough neurons go on and on to make us finally wake mankind and bring about in his brain and had made so much achieve a super consciousness that human consciousness. It was then necessary connections that he began will merge us with, to use Teilhard that man, as opposed to animals, to contemplate and became aware de Chardin’s terminology, the came to be. of his being. This differentiated him Omega Point, a sort of unity with from the animals that have never the absolute, which can never be The world has now become, completed the consciousness loop. achieved in full as the absolute is whether we like it or not, one unreachable. country, and its peoples will soon Thus, the first stage in the journey become world citizens. Mankind towards perfection that was destined Now, the peoples of the earth is now inclined to think in a global to pass through never-ending levels seem to have reached the second manner and perspective, taking of consciousness began when man stage as is witnessed by the universal the world as its homeland and became self-conscious and asked thirst for justice in the form of wary that it is neither oppressed himself ‘Who am I?’ Or maybe democracy, economic equality and by economic or social injustices ate of the forbidden fruit and knew the like. Everywhere people are nor destroyed by reckless what was good and bad, becoming clamoring for social justice, for fair environmental contamination and more or less like God, thereby share of the earth’s natural wealth pollution. Everybody now seems to extricating himself from the animal and resources, the desire to be be conscious that the entire human kingdom. able to lead one’s national destiny race is, in fact, on a sailing boat and achieved in our times as the world global consciousness, thanks to the by oneself, and what makes these feels that either, as species, we will The second stage in this is shrinking so fast that the seven Internet and other communication special is that they are happening proceed together in peace or we evolution of human consciousness and a half billion human brains now technologies. through the extensive use of the will sink into oblivion separately. seems to be in the process of being inhabiting this world are developing The third stage will be what Internet.

Photo: Taezaz Abraha Photographers Corner Birds Around gerset Dam /03-10-2019 Eritrea Profile, Saturday, August 29, 2020 No.25 4

GivingAsmait Futsumbrhan a Boost to Date Palm Farming

During our recent visit to the Northern Red Sea region, we were stunned by the number of date palm trees that are being cultivated in various corners of the region by individual farmers and government institutions. While driving towards the International Airport, a long line of over 1,500 date palm trees accompanied us on both sides of the road. One of the new recruits of the Eritrean Air Force, Mr. Yohannes, who is a graduate of the Hamelmalo College of Agriculture, was given the task of looking after the date palm trees. He says, “It was my first time to get acquainted with date palm when I first came here. I worked and studied hard to refine my expertise in this particular area”.

Mr. Yohannes, please tell us a suitable place where the trees tree is planted through layering, Honestly, I don’t believe that little bit about the date palm tree can grow. We just have to use farmers can start harvesting in our community has sufficient plantation in the Northern Red- our resources better so that we three years. But the best method knowledge about date palm trees. Sea region? can have good products. A fully of growing date palm trees is However, as I have said, we can grown date palm tree can yield up through tissue culture, which use date palm trees as food and Generally speaking, until to 150 kilos, which can help the is laboratory based and easy to shades in our houses. I wish recently our community didn’t individual farmer and help grow determine the productivity of the the Ministry of Agriculture and have the interest in and knowledge the economy of the country. In seedlings from the onset model farmers keep advocating about the benefits of date palm addition to the dates, which are the benefits of the trees so that trees. But over the past three nutritious, date palm trees can be Thank you for your time. Is members of the public can start years, farmers have been able to used in many ways. there anything else you would growing them and harvest more realize this and worked to harvest like to say? products. the products. Initially the trees How is the knowledge of were planted in 2015 to provide farmers in using their resources shades and create good scenery, right for the cultivation of the should make is the way they but in 2017 we started to plant trees? choose to plant the trees. There more trees when we realized are three ways that the trees can Bahti Meskerem . . . how profitable they are. And I trust that by giving farmers be planted: Palms have either through campaigns the Ministry information on the type of trees to male and female flowers on the continued from page 2 of Agriculture has carried out, plant, how to plant them and the same plant (dioecious) or one the number of farmers interested right time to breed and harvest, sex per plant (monoecious) and in planting the trees has grown farmers could get the anticipated need a male and female plant tremendously. harvest from their products. That for manual pollination, which is what the Ministry of Agriculture is traditionally referred to as What are the benefits of date has been doing throughout the layering, while the other and palm trees? past three years. I believe that is most effective procedure is called one of the reasons we are able to tissue culture. If farmer decide Date palm is drought-resistant find more and more farmers who to grow date seedlings through and can grow on any type of soil. are now cultivating date palm manual pollination, it would As the Northern and Southern trees. take them three to four years to Red-Sea regions are dry lands just figure out if the tree is male surrounded by sea water, I One of the most basic but or female, key information that don’t think we can ask for more important decisions farmers determines productivity. If the

in the Gash Barka region of and much devastation and Eritrea. A few months later, Abdu destruction, Eritrea finally won Mohamed Fayed became the first its independence from Ethiopia. martyr of the armed struggle when he was killed at Adal, Personally, in addition to the near Sawa. (Abdu Mohamed pride and patriotism noted Fayed’s grave is now located in above, I see September 1st as Sawa, while Hamid Idris Awate being all about inspiration. It is a himself passed away about 10 day that reiterates the importance months after the beginning of of closely holding onto and the armed struggle. He had protecting your dreams, hopes, succumbed to food poisoning.) and aspirations and persevering in the face of adversity. It By 1991, after one of the longest reminds us to be brave and national wars for liberation in remain undaunted, even when modern African history and confronted by the great tasks and following tens of thousands of obstacles we are faced with as a deaths, numerous more injuries, nation.