Addis Ababa: The Government of Ethiopia will continue supporting drought affected areas and saving the lives of citizens at any cost, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said.
Responding to questions by members of the House of People’s Representative today, the PM stated that drought has occurred in some parts of Tigray, Amhara, and Oromia, which is not a new trend for Ethiopia.
Using the drought as a political tool is not, however, appropriate since it is not the government that brought drought, he noted.
Calling for more cooperation to save lives in drought affected areas, the premier recalled that last year’s collaboration to support drought affected people living in Borena was exemplary.
For the premier, cooperation is crucial to avoid any death due to drought, but using the drought as a political tool is damaging.
During the past four months, for example, about 500,000 quintals of grain has been delivered to Tigray region, primarily by the government and some partners, the PM said.
The Interim Administration
of Tigray has to deliver the limited resources to the ones who needier, the PM added.
The government will continue to support the people with all its capability, the premier said, stressing that “we will do our best to help our people to pass such a difficult time.”
Dismissing the baseless accusation against his government for giving less attention to the matter, he revealed that the government allotted 15 billion Birr for drought victims.
Of this, partners contributed only about 4 billion Birr.
According to him, the government is primarily prioritizing saving lives and will continue to support people that have been affected by the drought.
The premier further noted that there has been no death due to drought so far.
PM Abiy also reaffirmed the commitment of his government to continue supporting drought affected areas and save the lives of citizens by giving special priority at any cost.
He emphasized the significance of increasing production and productivity to cope with the recurrent drought.
Accord
ingly, the nation has cultivated 300,000 million hectares of land during the past Ethiopian harvest season and 120,000 million quintals of wheat is expected.
Source: Ethiopian News Agency
WINDHOEK: Minister of Information and Communication Technology (MICT), Peya Mushelenga, has urged the public to disregard information circulating on social media regarding the mourning and funeral arrangements of the late President Hage Geingob.
Addressing the media here on Tuesday, Mushelenga said the ministry will be the focal information dissemination centre regarding all arrangements and activities for Geingob’s mourning period, leading to the funeral.
‘There are people who have a habit of saying apparently this and that about the funeral…if you have heard your things keep them to yourself. If you have not heard it from me and I have not heard it from the national preparatory committee…’ he said.
A national preparatory committee chaired by Prime Minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila was constituted by President Nangolo Mbumba to preside over the protocol on the funeral planning and sequence of events in consultation with the family.
Mushelenga further called upon the public to observe the period of mour
ning in harmony, noting that the government has requested organisations to keep their planned official ceremonies and gatherings at a minimum and in a dignified manner.
He further noted that public members and singing choirs willing to deliver a message should make their request through the executive director of MICT for further communication to the family for a final decision and dates.
Equally, regional governors planning to host any event in honour of Geingob must receive the directive from the national planning committee.
‘It is very important that during this time we remain calm as a nation. National mourning of the country is not different as we have it in most cultures, it means it is time to reflect, honour and respect the spirit of a departed one,’ he noted.
Geingob, 82, died on Sunday in Windhoek.
Source: The Namibia Press Agency