Special Edition

No. 76 Saturday, 13 March, 2021 Pages 4

Capacity development training Capacity development training Bilharzias, Elephantiasis, has been organized in Tio semi- Trachoma, and others, Mr. Daniel urban center to village health said that strong effort should be representatives in Araeta sub-zone, exerted to control their prevalence. . Mr. Daniel also called on the Indicating that ensuring the village health representatives to health of the society is not only strengthen participation in the through the treatment provided at effort being exerted to control the health facilities but also with the prevalence of Elephantiasis that increased awareness of the public on has been detected in Araeta sub- health issues, Mr. Daniel Russom, zone since 2014. head of Integrated Response of Communicable Diseases, said that Noting that the information the objective of the training was to being provided by village health develop the capacity village health representatives with regards the representatives and extend their prevalence of communicable and contribution. non-communicable diseases in their International Women’s Day commemoration area is significantly contributing Pointing out that there are 18 in curtailing their spread, Mr. The National Union of Eritrean national development drives. Women, Ms. Tekea Tesfamichael diseases worldwide including in Habteab Gebreab, administrator of Women branches in various cities conducted seminar in a virtual that are the main causes the sub-zone called for reinforced of Australia enthusiastically The General Consul of Eritrea format to members of the union in death and disability including participation for better outcome. commemorated International in Australia, Mr. Mehari Tekeste, Australia and New Zealand. Women’s Day, 8 March, under the on his part stressed need to Popular environmental theme “Eritrean Woman: Pillar of strengthening organizational At the seminar, Ms. Tekea gave Resilience and Development”. capacity and transfer the noble briefing on the role of the Eritrean sanitation activity societal values to the young women in realizing the national The inhabitants of the The residents indicated that At the event held in Melbourne, generation. independence and safeguarding administrative areas of Atkaro the popular campaign is part of the Chairwoman of the union national sovereignty and and Sinaga, Tsorena sub-zone, the sustainable activity they have branch gave briefing on the According to report, the commended the participation and conducted popular environmental been conducting in accordance contribution of the Eritrean commemoration event was contribution of Eritrean women in sanitation campaign aimed at with the guidelines provided by women in various stages as well highlighted with artistic and Australia and New Zealand. controlling the prevalence of health practitioners. as the opportunities and challenges cultural performances. malaria that could occur with the encountered. She also called According to reports, nationals coming of the rainy season. They also expressed readiness for reinforced participation and In the same vein, the President in Sweden, South Africa and the to continue the program with a contribution in the success of the of the National Union of Eritrean Netherlands also commemorated The popular campaign included view to control the prevalence of the International Women’s Day clearing areas that are suspected malaria and other communicable with patriotic zeal. for breeding malaria mosquitoes. diseases. Announcement from the Department of surgery upgrading capacity Ministry of Health The Department of Surgery at the surgeries, cancer as well as deli- atrics will start in the near future. Orotta National Referral Hospital cate surgeries on infants. He also He further indicated that the Twenty-one patients have been diagnosed positive for is upgrading the scope and quality said that the department regularly Department of Surgery at the Oro- COVID-19 in tests carried out on 11 March at Quarantine of its services through investment conducts 1,500-2000 surgeries an- tta National Referral Hospital has Centers and OPD Services in Gash Barka and Central in equipment and human capital. nually. been providing emergency services Regions. respecting the guidelines issued to In an interview conducted with Dr. Yosief went on to say that the combat the COVID-19 pandemic, Out of these, thirteen patients are from Quarantine Centers Erina, Dr. Yosief Tewelde, head of Ministry of Health is giving due however, currently, it has resumed in Om-Hajer (5), Adibara (4), Agordat (2), Goluj (1), and Ali the Department of Surgery stated attention to human resources de- providing regular services and Ghidir (1), in the Gash Barka region. The other eight patients that the current service categories velopment and that post-graduate called on patients to respect the are from OPD Services in , . include neurosurgery, renal/urinary education on gynecology and pedi- guidelines and social distancing.

On the other hand, fifty-four patients who have been receiving medical treatment in Gash Barka (53), and Anseba (1), Regions have recovered fully and have been discharged from these facilities.

The total number of recovered patients to-date has accordingly risen to 2592 while the number of deaths stands at seven.

The total number of confirmed cases in the country to-date has increased to 3009.

Ministry of Health Asmara 11 March 2021 Eritrea Profile, Saturday, 13 March, 2021 No.76 2

By Bana Negusse ICG on Eritrea: Nuanced Analysis Short-changed for Entrenched Bias

over 250,000 militias I will not dwell on the outrageous is ICG’s historical stance on Eritrea. and Special Forces (by and shifting allegations concocted The sad fact is the ICG has, in its embezzling and diverting every day by TPLF Trolls and their periodic reports and prognosis on Earlier this week, Mark Leon development funds). In the handful external enablers who have Eritrea in the past ten years, grossly Goldberg hosted a podcast entitled, past two years in particular, it unscrupulously resorted to a frantic misrepresented the country. The “The Civil War in , Sparked its launching of a massive attack stoked tensions and dangerously disinformation campaign to recoup litany of recurrent faults include: by a Conflict in the Tigray Region, on the Northern Command in ratcheted up violent, extremist, and in cyberspace what their fiendish distortion or omission of facts; is Getting Worse”. The podcast early November 2020. For an hateful speech, before launching war plan has failed to achieve on wanton disregard of the country’s features Will Davison, an analyst “expert” to somehow overlook its reckless attack on 3 November the ground. progress and achievements; and from the International Crisis Group this fundamental, basic fact, is 2020. Furthermore, the TPLF entrenched bias that is hard to (ICG). woefully unacceptable. It is indeed summarily dismissed all overtures It is worth noting, too, that explain and comprehend. In a gross disservice and insult to our for peace. the “expert” featured on the some of the highly flawed reports Regrettably, the program collective intelligence. program effectively spent years in the past, Eritrea has been was full of misinformation, As it downplayed the TPLF’s as a propagandist for the TPLF, portrayed as a “failed state on glaring contradictions, tenuous High-level TPLF officials instigation of the conflict in Tigray, downplaying its serious crimes the brink of disintegration” with presumptions as well as substantial themselves did not mince their the program also sought to rewrite and grave failures (including presumptive authors contemplating oversights. Ultimately, it lacked words when they acknowledged, the basic history about the 1998- widespread hunger and famine), the “timelines for collapse” and balance and failed to provide an with bravado, the massive attack 2000 border war between Eritrea trumpeting a mirage of “its leaps drawing up “transitional plans”. objective, accurate analysis or that they launched on the Northern and Ethiopia. Contrary to the in progress and growth”, and even Eritrea’s repeated efforts to seek discussion about the situation in the Command after months of narrative peddled in the podcast, coaching and directing its officials redress to malignant reports have Tigray Region in Ethiopia. meticulous and stealth preparations. the 1998-2000 war erupted due about PR. invariably fallen on deaf ears. A recent United Nations memo to TPLF’s unlawful schemes of While numerous problems can describes the sequence of events “territorial aggrandizement” by More recently, he was deported In the event, the recent programme, be dissected and unpacked, I will and concludes that this was “an act incorporating large swathes of by Ethiopian authorities, thus marked as it is with factual errors, focus here, for the sake of brevity, of war everywhere in the world, and sovereign Eritrean territories in the raising significant questions about untenable prepositions and lack on the most prominent ones. one that typically triggers military western part of the country as well conflicts of interest, credibility, and of any semblance of balance, is response in defense of any nation.” as incipient schemes of “regime grasp of a situation from which he nothing more than the latest episode First off, the program completely change” in Asmara. is thousands of miles away. This in a long series of utterly negative overlooks the role played by the Additionally, the podcast historical backdrop is an important reports. This is not the academic TPLF in starting the conflict in programme fails to mention the The program uncritically parrots element in parsing the analytical standard and caliber that the ICG the Tigray Region of Ethiopia by important fact that over the past vicious allegations and reports about flaws and motivational dimensions should assume for the sake and several years, the TPLF was “Eritrean crimes in Tigray”, which of the podcast programme. respect of its readers as well as to also actively preparing for war, are utterly false and maliciously be fair to the people and nation of stockpiling weapons, and training fabricated for ulterior political ends. Another institutional dimension Eritrea.

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Layout AAzmerazmera BerhaneBerhane AidaSaraSara JoharAlem Eritrea Profile, Saturday, 13 March, 2021 No.76 3

Expanding Plantations in Southwest Farm zone

Kesete Ghebrehiwet for the support they are getting,” Mr. Hailezghi said. Eritrea’s Crops and Livestock Corporation (ECLC) launched ECLC cultivates crops during vast farm projects in the southwest the rainy season in all southwest Gash-Barka region in places such farms to help ensure food security as Haykota, Tesenai and Goluj and meet the demand of animal sub-zones as well as places in feed. The cultivation of sesame the Southern zones of the region and sorghum, during the rainy in 2016 taking into account that season, have been mostly carried the Gash-Barka region has vast out in Ketay (around Omhajor) fertile zones and is endowed with and in Gerset as well as in abundant water streams from Aligidir covering a total of 7,000 the highlands. Since then the hectares. cultivation of crops, vegetables and fruits as well as raising Apart from the regular farm livestock have been flourishing. activities, pilot projects have been carried out at Gerset and Fesko to trigger the development of we launched the farm projects at southwest zone have created job to cultivate crops indigenous advanced irrigation systems at the the southwest farm, but thanks opportunities and changed the to the highlands of the country, farms in the region. Mr. Hailezghi to the Government’s efforts in living standards of the residents of which showed promising results. said that because of the dams the human resource development, Haykota, Tesenai and Goluj sub- Mr. Hailezghi Habte, head of farms in Gerset, which began graduates in various fields of zones. The people of the area, who Southwest Farm Zone at ECLC, with small fruit plantations, have agriculture have been coming in engaged mainly in raising animals said if cultivated in a season been steadily expanding and are great numbers to the farm zone in the past, are now earning their of optimal temperature, from now supplying local markets as of 2014. The contribution of living through a variety of farm November to February, the Gash- throughout the nation with these agronomists has resulted in activities. The farm undertakings Barka region is conducive for the fruits such as mangoes, oranges, the expansion of farm activities, implemented in the southwest Mr. Hailezghi Habte cultivation of typical highland grapefruits and lemons. Currently an increase in yield and an overall zone opened a venue for the crops. around 50,000 trees of fruits have transformation of agriculture in residents to take initiatives in the According to Mr. Hailezghi, been planted in all farms of the the zone.” development of farms in other the current strategic focus of the In line with the ongoing efforts southwest zone, and the number areas of the region. Corporation has been augmenting to make a difference in agricultural has increased with the plantation One of the Corporation’s fruit and livestock production for produce, Mr. Hailezghi said that of all types of fruits in the last objectives at the farm projects In his final remarks, Mr. local and international markets the corporation has been working three years especially in Fanko- has been the promotion of skill Hailezghi said that the Government while the efforts being made to supply select vegetable seeds Rawi, Fanko-Tsumue, Aligidir transfer. Employees have been has been contributing toward to increase the production of and to encourage farmers to form and Adi-Omar. In areas around trained as operators of farm changing the living standards of tomatoes has been geared toward farmers’ cooperatives to be able Bademit dam, the water has only machineries and acquired other the people by giving training and raising the production of tomato to meet the demands of tomatoes been used for livestock due to lack skills that could impact their other services free of charge to paste both for local markets and to at Banatom Factory in Alebu. of electricity, Mr. Hailezghi said, career and the development of the enable the farmers become self- be exported. To make their lives Initiatives taken to give exemplary although their plan is to expand farm zone. The college graduates reliant. Besides the provision of easier, subsistence farmers in the farmers select seeds to cultivate irrigation based farm activities assigned to work at the farms, who veterinary services and pesticides Gash-Barka region have been has shown remarkable results that just like other areas in the region. are now effectively running the free of charge, the corporation provided with farm machineries in the long run the corporation farm project, have been leaders in also provides 45 Kg of crop and at a very fair price. “The farmers intends to make the select seeds Similarly, the livestock resource training employees who are now 500 Nakfa per month for the used to pay 1,000 Nakfa per hour accessible to all farmers in the development program has been working as veterinary experts residents of the area working for a private farm machinery Gash-Barka region. making major strides. The at farm projects operated by the in the farm project. The overall which the Government is now program that began at Afhimbol corporation. vision is to modernize and develop offering at only 300 Nakfa per Dams have been constructed in farm project was extended to agriculture for local consumption hour and the people are thankful the Gash-Barka region primarily the areas around Alebu, Fesko, The farm activities in the and for export. Adi-Omar and Aligidir. The Corporation raises Hameria and Gereji sheep species, Gamus, Hameria and Begayt cattle species, and indigenous goat and camel species to help meet the national needs of meet. By engaging in animal husbandry the Corporation has been working to stabilize the market and meet the needs of colleges and ministries across the nation.

There has also been a remarkable progress in human resource deployment at the farm zone. Mr. Hailezghi said, “We had a few agricultural experts when Eritrea Profile, Saturday, 13 March, 2021 No.76 4

the journey for equality

Mikal Tesfay holiday in Eritrea, began to be observed in Eritrea in a different sustaining the fight for women’s celebrated during the armed atmosphere because of restrictions empowerment and asserting gender March 8, International Women’s struggle for independence. In 1979, due to COVID-19. While it has equality. As globally proved, Day, has been globally celebrated the National Union of Eritrean impacted people all over the world, to have an enlightened society this year under the theme “Choose Women (NUEW) was established, the pandemic has also bolstered requires the assertion of equality in to Challenge.” The basis for this and its primary objective was to the unique culture of caring and gender, opportunities and human holiday, which is a public holiday mobilize and organize women to helping one another. Eritreans rights. in some countries while it is participate in the national liberation inside and outside the country have largely ignored elsewhere, was the struggle. It raised women’s been helping their compatriots For a country without equality International Socialist Women’s consciousness by conducting morally and financially to help in opportunity, meaningful Conference held in August 1910 in meetings and seminars, organized deal with the challenges associated development is less likely to Copenhagen, Denmark. A year later demonstrations by Eritreans in with the pandemic. But, of course, happen. The question of women’s on March 19, 1911, International diaspora to expose the atrocities as always the Eritrean woman have equality is not only a concern of Women’s Day was marked for the of the Ethiopian army, fought had a major role in this. human rights but it also affects the first time by over a million people against the forced conscription of development and enlightenment of in Austria, Denmark, Germany and youngsters, mobilized members As a public holiday, the aim the society. Therefore, we all need Switzerland. The primary aim of of NUEW in areas under the of March 8 is not merely to have to work toward making gender fun but also to renew promises of equality part of our culture. marriage, and other harmful traditional practices which includes female genital mutilation was legally banned by the government. Therefore, the international women’s day became a day to empower women and to remember the extraordinary accomplishments of the Eritrean women in shaping the country’s history. For this reason that holiday had been celebrated annually.

Under the theme “Eritrean woman: Pillar of Resistance and International Women’s Day is to Ethiopian occupation to gather Development,” March 8 was ensure women’s rights. information about the enemy, raise funds, secure important items such March 8, which is a public as medicines for the fighters in the field and planned, guided and sometimes LOCAL NEWS executed guerrilla activities. Making up a third of the freedom fighters, Eritrean Soil and Water conservation activity women played a big The inhabitants of the Adi-Kotoyo are conducting roads controlling soil erosion and thereby role in the struggle for administrative areas of Daero Kun’at, renovation activity that has been enhance agricultural production, Mr. Eritrea’ independence Mailafo, Adi-Akelo and Semomo, damaged due to flooding while Semere Gebremedhin, water and and paved the way Adi-Quala sub-zone, are conducting the other administrative areas are soil conservation expert, said that the for the nation’s soil and water conservation as constructing terraces and water popular campaign is ongoing. development. That is well as roads renovation popular diversion schemes with a view how they proved and campaigns. to control soil erosion and boost In the same vein, the residents of earned their equality. agricultural production. the sub-zones of Mai-Mine, Tsorena, According to Mr. Berhane Mai-Aini, Adi-Keih and Adi-Quala The government Woldeselasie, head of Economic Indicating that the residents have celebrated International Women’s empowers women Development in the sub-zone, the understood the significance of water Day, 8 March featuring various and encourages their residents of Daero-Kun’at and and soil conservation program in programs. equal participation in the country’s politics, economy and culture, Regrouping of villages and the NUEW Regrouping of villages in Fah service provisions including potable providing health and educational provides a powerful and Ile, Habero sub-zone, reported water supply, educational and health services. platform, with its that is significantly contributing in services as well electricity power 200,000 members, improving the livelihoods of the supply and others. Mr. Fitwi went on to say that the for the ongoing fight residents. administrative areas of Filfile, Gelet, women are waging at Regarding educational and Karobel and Aritai have become the local level against Mr. Fitiwi Gebremeskel, health services, Mr. Fitwi indicated beneficiaries of electricity power traditional power and administrator of the sub-zone, said that there are one health center, supply and in some parts of the male chauvinism. that as a result of the regrouping of three health stations as well as sub-zone the residents have become Not only that, child villages, the residents have become 13 kindergartens, ten elementary, beneficiaries of mobile-telephone miscarriage, underage beneficiaries of various social eight junior and two high schools service.