Special Edition No. 58 Saturday, 09 January, 2021 Pages 4 ABUNE PETROS GIVES BENEDICTION Abune Petros, Archbishop of the Eritrean Orthodox Tewahdo Church, gives benediction in connection with Christmas. In his message Abune Petros wished Merry Christmas to Eritrean people inside the country and abroad, to by the Government with a view front line health workers as well to contain the spread of COVID- as to members of the Eritrean 19 pandemic for the sake of their Defense Forces. He also wished lives and safety of the country. early recovery to the sick. Abune Petros also called on the Abune Petros urged the public faithful to extend hands to the SUDANESE SENIOR DELEGATION IN ASMARA to practice the guidelines issued disadvantaged citizens. As part and parcel of close bilateral Foreign Minister of Sudan Mr. evening hours of yesterday. MUSICAL CONCERT IN CONNECTION WITH CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION consultations at highest levels, Omar Gamar-Aldin said that the It is to be recalled that in a visit Musical concert themed “History Through Art” was held here in the Sudanese senior delegation led by objective of the visit was to bolster conducted on 5 and 6 January, Capital in connection with the New Year and Geez Christmas celebrations. Vice President of the Sovereign the growing bilateral ties between Eritrea’s delegation composed of Council, General Mohammed the two countries and joint efforts Foreign Minister Osman Saleh The musical concert that was held in Cinema Roma was organized by Hamdan Duglo, has arrived in for regional cooperation. He also and Presidential Adviser Yemane the collaboration of the Eritrean Defense Forces Training Center and the Asmara in mid-morning hours of said that the two sides agreed to Ghebreab delivered a message from Ministry of Information. yesterday, 21 January. hold regular exchange of visits and President Isaias Afwerki to Sudan’s It included musical performances from the mid-1950’s to this day depicting In a meeting held at the State House, consultations. President of the Sovereign Council, the history of the armed and political struggle of the Eritrean people as well President Isaias and the Sudanese General Abdul Fattah Al-Burhan. the strong resistance against external conspiracies. Vice President General Mohammed Upon arrival at the Asmara The delegation also met Vice Hamdan Duglo exchanged views on International Airport, the Sudanese President of the Sovereign Council The two-hour musical concert was also highlighted by cultural and artistic current developments in the Horn. senior delegation led by Vice General Mohammed Hamdan performances by the National Marching Band, Sawa cultural troupe and The two sides agreed to further President General Mohammed Duglo and Prime Minister Abdella other renowned artists. Preparation and rehearsals for the concert has been deepen the strategic and brotherly Hamdan Duglo was accorded warm Hamdock. conducted for the last 4 months, Maj. Mihreteab Kidane, director of the ties between the two countries in welcome by Foreign Minister Osman musical concert stated. developmental, diplomatic and Saleh and Presidential Adviser security sectors. Yemane Ghebreab. The Sudanese Speaking to reporters, Acting delegation returned home in the ERITREA’s delegATION WITH SUDAn’s VP AND PM ANNOUNCEMENT Eritrea’s delegation composed of ties between the two countries between the two countries. FM Osman Saleh and Presidential and joint efforts for regional Eritrea’s delegation composed FROM THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH Adviser Yemane Ghebreab met cooperation. of Foreign Minister Mr. Osman One hundred eleven patients have been diagnosed positive for COVID- in Khartoum on 6 January Vice Saleh and Presidential Adviser Mr. 19 in tests carried out yesterday at Quarantine Centers and OPD Services President of the Sovereign Council The Vice President of the Sovereign Yemane Ghebreab on 5 January in the Gash Bark, Central, Northern Red Sea and Southern Regions. Mohammed Hamdan Duglo and Council, Mohammed Hamdan delivered a message from President Prime Minister Abdella Hamdock. Duglo, and, Prime Minister Abdella Isaias Afwerki to Sudan’s President Out of these, sixty nine patients are from Quarantine Centers in Adibara The Sudanese senior Government Hamdock further called for regular of the Sovereign Council, General (40), Tessenie (11), Barentu (11), Om-Hajer (2), Goluj (2), Ali Gidir (2), officials applauded growing bilateral exchange of visits and consultations Abdul Fattah Al-Burhan. and Haikota (1) in Gash Barka Region. Thirty five patients are from Quarantine Centers and OPD Services in the Central Region. Six patients are from Quarantine Centers in Mahmimet (3), Gahtelay (2), and OPD Services in Ghinda (1) in the Northern Red Sea Region. The remaining one is from OPD Services in Mendefera, Southern Region. On the other hand, sixty three patients who have been receiving medical treatment in hospitals in Gash Barka (38), and, Central (25) Regions have recovered fully and released from these facilities. Sadly, two patients, aged 60 and 55 years respectively, who were receiving medical treatment in hospitals in Gash Barka Region; and, a 50-year patient from a hospital in the Southern Region have died due to COVID-19. The total number of recovered patients to-date accordingly stands at 803 while the number of deaths has risen to 6. The total number of confirmed cases in the country to-date has increased to 1556. Ministry of Health Asmara 8 January 2021 Eritrea Profile,S aturday, 09 January, 2021 No.58 2 Birth of a Lake Part I Kesete Ghebrehiwet plains of the Gash-Barka region. and fertile plains of the Gash- Therefore, harnessing this river of Barka region. Eritrea’s resolve to develop and a big magnitude required careful bring about social change has planning as any slight mistake Based on the studies, which been seen in its Government’s could lead to flooding. included geological studies to determination to transform its identify the types and properties agriculture hinged on building Before the construction of rocks at the river bed, a suitable dams. The construction of of Kerkebet dam, extensive area at the narrowest bed section Kerkebet dam, the largest dam in preliminary design and feasibility of Barka River had to be identified Eritrea, is a case in point. studies were carried out to Mr. Getachew Merhatsion as the dam’s site. As a result the explore and select a suitable site. narrow gorge around Afhimbol Kerkebet dam was built along An evaluation of the quantity of was done using local experts. The became the dam’s site. Barka River with a view to water that could be retained and dam has become a fountain of augmenting the water resources its value compared to the cost of life in the arid region where it is According to Eng. Kidane of Eritrea and changing the the project over the anticipated located, and with the construction Berhane, head of Engineering Eng. Kidane Berhane ecosystem of its surrounding. years of operation were carefully of the concrete barrier, the river Support Task Force at the Office Barka River, the second largest studied. A wide range of other now retreats for about 14 kms. of the President, although studies agricultural areas in Kerkebet seasonal river in Eritrea, flows factors that could affect the had been carried out prior to 2009, sub-zone. Barka River, which has from the highlands to the vast environment were also considered The Engineering Support Task detailed hydrologic and geological an annual flow of over 300 million studies were conducted to evaluate cubic meters, flows from the whether the foundation was prone central highlands to the northwest to fracturing and to check the of the Gash-Barka region. amount of sedimentation of sand and soil at the riverbed. Mr. Getachew Merhatsion, general manager of EMIC, said Highlighting the challenges that Kerkebet dam was constructed encountered during the with a vision of cultivating around construction of the dam’s 26,463 hectares, which does foundation, Eng. Kidane said that not include the 2000 hectares of clearing the underground water farm land in Afhimbol. So far, and sedimentation and, generally, around 10,000 hectares have been the excavation and cleaning leveled in Aamalait as a first step process would have been not only in preparation for the envisaged demanding but the foundation larger farm projects. would have been very shaky. For this reason, a decision was made All infrastructures, including to build the foundation through the building of the dam, that are before deciding the dam’s optimal Force and the Eritrean Mapping piles using a BG drilling machine needed for large scale farming, are size and configuration. and Information Center (EMIC), that has a diameter of 80 cms. put in place. Big water tanks that at the Office of the President, have a storage capacity of 20,000 The scoping, planning and conducted an extensive survey Kerkebet water resource cubic meters of water have been engineering work of Kerkebert that could help in the development development project was initiated erected on high ground to pump dam involved many parties and of water resources around the vast to make use of the vast fertile water to the vast agricultural areas Published Every through gravity. Published Every SaturdayPublished & Wednesday Every Kerkebet sub-zone is a very Wednesday & Saturday Saturday & Wednesday fertile area conducive for the cultivation of all kinds of Acting Editor cereals and oil seeds. Getachew Acting Editor said that around 18 species of Amanuel Mesfun sugar cane have been planted to [email protected] Mesfun multiply them for use in a variety [email protected] of soils. The pilot project has shown a remarkable outcome of P.O.Box: 247 P.O.Box: 247 up to 21 brix of sugar content Tel: 11-41-14 per hectare. Good harvest has Fax: 12-77-49 also been obtained from cotton E-mail: and groundnut plantations.