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በዚህ ታሪካዊ ወቅት ወገንን ለመታደግ የድርሻዎን እየተወጡ ስለሆነ እናመሰግናለን!

The challenge caused by #Covid19 in #Ethiopia is growing. We rise by lifting others! Let’s feed the hungry & help the less fortunate. #Weareinthistogether! We raised $100K+! Thank you for doing your part.

European Union and its member states have mobilized €487 Million or 19 Billion Birr to support the Ethiopian Health System amid coronavirus pandemic.

The information from the Union indicates, the financial support is aimed to enhance quarantine sites, realize social protection enhancement, livelihood recovery and strengthen Ethiopia’s economic response to the pandemic.

Furthermore, EU has demonstrating continued promotion of multilateralism and underlining the need for an integrated, effective and coherent global response to this pandemic through WHO.

The EU with Team Europe is also contributing 60 million Euros to IGAD ‘s regional coordination in supporting border facilities, continuity of health services, ensuring critical supply chains for safe trade and promoting digital solutions for the COVID-19 health response.

The tripartite negotiation between Ethiopia, Sudan and Egypt on the guidelines and rules for the first filling and annual operation for the GERD continued for the fourth day on Saturday, 13 June 2020.

In the meeting held via a video-conference under the chairmanship of the Sudan and in the presence of the observers, the three countries negotiated on technical issues on the first filling and annual operation of the GERD.

Based on the filling schedule of the GERD, the countries reached understanding on the first stage filling, volume of environmental flow, guidelines for first stage filling and the approach to drought management rules.

The countries also reached an understanding on dam safety rules, environmental and social impact assessment studies, and entry into force of the guidelines and rules.

On Sunday, the three countries will exchange the guidelines and rules incorporating the outcomes of the negotiation, according to a statement the Ministry of Water, Irrigation and Energy sent to FBC.

While recognizing the progress made in the previous days of the negotiations, Ethiopia stressed that:

• the ongoing negotiation is not on the allocation of the Blue Nile waters
• Ethiopia will be bound by the guidelines and rules for first filling and annual operation of the GERD that it will sign with the two downstream countries.
• such a commitment will only be guided by the Declaration of Principles of March 2015 that stipulates relevant international principles that are adequate for a GERD project.
• any attempt to confuse the international community or campaign to exert maximum pressure on Ethiopia to accept colonial based treaties that it is not a party to and foreclose its legitimate right of using Abbay/the Blue Nile camouflaged in the guidelines and rules on the first filling and annual operation is unacceptable.
• Ethiopia stresses that it is a genuine negotiation based on good faith and transparency that will result in finalizing the process with a win-win outcome

In this context, the Ministry of Water, Irrigation and Energy of Ethiopia has found the press release of the Spokesperson of the Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation of Egypt of 13 June 2020 regrettable.

“Despite the accusation of the Spokesperson that the ‘negotiations are faltering because of Ethiopia’, the truth is we have made progress and if the ongoing negotiation is to falter it is only because of Egypt’s obstinacy to maintain a colonial based water allocation agreement that denies Ethiopia and all the upstream countries their natural and legitimate rights,” the Ministry said in the statement.

On the way forward, the countries agreed to take stock of the outcomes of the negotiation and continue the negotiation on outstanding issues.

The negotiation will reconvene on Monday, 15 June 2020, with the chairmanship of the Egypt, according to the Ministry.

Addis Ababa University has agreed with Administrative Boundaries and Identity Issues Commission to conduct a scientific study on administrative boundaries and identity issues across the country.

The commission has appropriated 20.5 million birr for the scientific research to be conducted by experts drawn from various higher education institutions within five years period, it is indicated.

Director General of Administrative Boundaries and Identity Issues Commission, Awelu Hussein and President of Addis Ababa University, Professor Tasew Woldehana signed the agreement on behalf of their respective institutions yesterday.

Administrative Boundaries and Identity Issues Commission was established two years ago aimed to submit recommendations to Houses of Federation and People’s Representatives, the prime minister and the general public at large regarding  administrative and  boundary conflicts, self governance and identity issues in participatory, inclusive and scientific manner.

Ministries of Labor and Social Affairs and Urban Development and Construction have signed a 20 Million Birr humanitarian support with United Nations World Food Program in response to coronavirus pandemic.

The agreement is aimed to deliver humanitarian support through the Urban Productive Safety Net Project (UPSNP) to meet immediate needs of the vulnerable population who are negatively impacted by COVID 19 in the country.

The agreement, which plans to support over 17, 000 pregnant and lactating mothers through the urban productive safety net project was signed by Dr. Ergogie Tesfaye, Minister of Labor and Social Affairs, Engineer Aisha Mohammed, Minister of Urban Development and Construction and Dr. Steven Were Omanmo, WFP country representative.

The urban Productive Safety Net Program which has been integrated with the agreement will be effective from July to December 2020.

During the signing ceremony, Dr. Steven Were Omamo, WFP Country Representative, said the humanitarian response for people affected by the coronavirus crises is a matter of life saving.

Engineer Aisha Mohammed, at the event, said the support to the project clients will help pregnant and lactating mothers to survive the pandemic.

Dr. ErgogieTesfaye, to her part, stressed social protection is a strategic way out to reduce extreme poverty and hunger, minimize shocks, mitigate risks and promote self-reliance at individual and household levels.

The agreement will bring about a difference in the lives of the mothers and their newborn in the fight against the pandemic,

Ethiopia has put in place different policy and program interventions such as the National Policy and Strategy for Disaster Risk Management, Social Protection Policy, and the National Nutrition Program to protect the vulnerable ones from natural and manmade calamities, Dr. Ergogie added.

UNICEF and ministries have so far signed yesterday over 116 million Birr agreement to support vulnerable people through the Urban Productive Safety Net Programme.