Mereja.Forum

[Zmeselo]

ከሆቴል ትራፊ ምግብ በፔስታል የሚወስዱት ዝቅተኛ ደራጃ ላይ ያሉ ሰራተኞች ብቻ እንዳይመስላችሁ። ድሮ ደህና የኑሮ ደረጃ ላይ እንደሚገኙ የሚታወቀው እንደ የባንክ፣ የፍርድቤት፣ የጤና፣ ወዘተ የስራ መስኮች ላይ ተሰማርተው የሚገኙ ባለሙያዎች ዛሬ ላይ ደሞዛቸው የምግብ ወጪ እንኳን መሸፈን አቅቶት፤ የሆቴል ትራፊ ለመቀበል ከጎዳና ተዳዳሪዎች ጋር እንደሚሰልፉ ይታወቃል። የሰራተኞች ኮንፌዴሬሽን ይህን ሃቅ ደፍሮ በማጋለጡ ሊመሰገን ይገባዋል።

@Jawar_Mohammed

SHOCKING ― The Confederation of Ethiopian Trade Unions (CETU) challenges Members of Parliament to witness firsthand the disturbing reality of countless government employees rushing to restaurants with plastic bags in hand, hoping to collect leftover food.

This isn't just poverty. It's a national disgrace. It's the direct result of PM Abiy Ahmed's failed economic policy and mismanagement.

[Fiyameta]

[Horus]

ፊያሜንታል የማታፍር ነጭ ድሃ!

ይህቺ ምን የመሰለች ያሜሪካ ነዋሪ አገር አለኝ ብላ አስመራ ብትሄድ የወር አበባዋ መጥቶባት መታጠቢያ ውሃ አጣች! አው አንተም አገር አለኝ ብለህ ኖረህ ትሞታለች

No electric
No Water
No Functioning bathroom

[Zmeselo]

George Clooney, John Prendergast, and their "The Sentry" NGO, descendants of the "Save Darfur" movement, have put a bullseye on Eritrea. Prendergast's crusades to save Black Africans from one another are summed up here in: "Bwana Saves Africa."

South Sudan
Bwana Saves Africa

By Sean Jacobs

https://africasacountry.com/2010/12/bwana-saves-africa

12.05.2010



Today’s New York Times Magazine carries a fawning profile http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/05/magaz ... ml?_r=1&hp of John Prendergast, the force behind the Enough Project (reference: Congo, Darfur and now southern Sudan). Prendergast is described by reporter Daniel Bergner as

America’s most influential activist in Africa’s most troubled regions.

A former Clinton White House official, Prendergast probably wrote the book on how to utilize celebrity diplomacy. (Actors George Clooney, Angelina Jolie and Don Cheadle’s status as foreign policy experts originate with the Enough Project.) At best the article is interesting as a how-to manuel on influencing US foreign policy on Africa. At the same time reporter Bergner also undercuts his own thesis by conceding, it is difficult to measure exactly Clooney and Prendergast’s importance in the recent surge of US public focus on Sudan. For the profile Bergner followed Pendergrast to southern Sudan where a referendum on the south’s political independence from the north is planned, January 2011. Much of the information in the piece won’t be new to people familiar with Prendergast or developments in Sudan. Some readers may get a chuckle out of Bergner’s man-crush on Pendergrast. Bergner writes that Prendergast has

… wavy gray hair that fell to the shoulders of his T-shirt. The hair, along with the unshaven scruff on his chin, made for a look of dashing flamboyance that was undercut by bursts of boyish energy.

We also learn that Prendergast has no time for critics of his methods or his grasp of the issues, that he

has devoted all of his adult life to Africa,

and discovered “human suffering” when he saw scenes of Ethiopia’s 1985 famine on TV.

Prendergast can’t stop himself from describing a first trip to Sudan in the 1980s as

… a bit of ‘Apocalypse Now’.

Not surprisingly, we also learn that he has been betrayed by Africans whom he has admired. Etcetera, etcetera.

Anyway, Howard French, former New York Times West Africa correspondent, best summed up the piece in a tweet: https://twitter.com/#!/hofrench

Bwana saves Africa. Part 3,276. Barf. Will we ever get beyond such stories?

About the Author

Sean Jacobs, Founder and Editor of Africa is a Country, is on the faculty of The New School and a Shuttleworth Fellow.

[Zmeselo]

Asmara, the capital of Eritrea, has 24/7 electricity, a milestone achieved with the completion of Phase I of the Beleza expansion project. This makes it the only major city in the Horn of Africa with a consistent power supply. While the city now enjoys reliable electricity, efforts are underway to further enhance the power grid and explore alternative energy sources.

Key Aspects of Electricity in Asmara:

24/7 Power:

Asmara and surrounding towns now have a stable 24/7 electricity supply due to the Beleza expansion project.

Grid Reliability:

The project also focuses on upgrading the Hirgigo power plant (Phase II) and all substations (Phase III) to further improve the power grid's operational capacity.

Potential for Renewable Energy:

Eritrea has significant potential for solar and wind energy, and the government is exploring ways to integrate these resources into the national grid.

Solar Street Lights:

Asmara is already utilizing solar energy to power street lights in certain areas.

Household Expenditures on Energy:

Studies indicate that households in Eritrea, even those with lower incomes, can afford electricity, as their spending on alternative lighting sources like batteries and kerosene is comparable to the cost of grid electricity.

Future Plans:

The Ministry of Energy and Mines (MEM) plans to increase power generation capacity by diversifying away from fossil fuels and expanding the use of renewable energy sources.

In summary: Asmara has achieved a significant milestone with the completion of 24/7 electricity, and the city is actively working towards a more sustainable and reliable energy future.

ፊያሜንታል የማታፍር ነጭ ድሃ!

ይህቺ ምን የመሰለች ያሜሪካ ነዋሪ አገር አለኝ ብላ አስመራ ብትሄድ የወር አበባዋ መጥቶባት መታጠቢያ ውሃ አጣች! አው አንተም አገር አለኝ ብለህ ኖረህ ትሞታለች

No electric
No Water
No Functioning bathroom

[Zmeselo]

Asmara, Eritrea, faces a persistent shortage of fresh water, impacting residents and businesses. While the city relies on surface water sources, the rainfall regime is irregular, leading to insufficient water production to meet demand. The city's water supply department, AWSD, is working to improve water management and distribution, including the construction of the Toker dam to increase capacity. Despite these efforts, residents often face rationing and rely on alternative sources like tanker trucks or private wells, sometimes at inflated prices.

Here's a more detailed look at the situation:

Challenges:

Inadequate Water Supply:

Asmara's water production, primarily from Mai Nefhi and Stretta Vaudetto Treatment Plants, is not enough to meet the city's needs.

Irregular Rainfall:

The rainy season in Asmara is limited, with an uneven distribution of rainfall, making it difficult to rely solely on surface water.

High Unaccounted-for Water:

A significant portion of the water produced is lost due to leaks and other issues in the aging water distribution network, contributing to the shortage.

Rationing and High Prices:

Residents often experience water rationing, receiving a limited supply per week, and may have to pay exorbitant prices for water from alternative sources.

Limited Access:

A small number of connections serve a large number of families, and some areas of the city are not connected to the water network at all.

Efforts to Improve Water Supply:

Toker Dam Construction:

The Toker dam project aims to increase water production significantly and help meet the city's growing demand.

Improved Water Management:

AWSD is working on better management of existing water resources and is undertaking longer-term projects to enhance the water supply system.

Groundwater Development:

Projects are underway to develop groundwater resources, particularly in areas surrounding Asmara, to supplement surface water sources.

Water Harvesting:

Efforts are being made to harvest rainwater and explore other innovative methods, like fog harvesting, to increase water availability.

Community Participation:

Projects involving community participation in water management and infrastructure development are being implemented to ensure sustainability.

Other Considerations:

Water Quality:

Concerns exist about the quality of water from some sources, with reports of deterioration in shallow wells and open reservoirs due to pollution.

Alternative Sources:

Residents and businesses sometimes rely on private wells and tanker trucks, but these sources may be unreliable and expensive.

Health Implications:

Water shortages and the reliance on potentially unsafe water sources can pose health risks.

In conclusion, Asmara faces a complex water situation with both challenges and ongoing efforts to improve access to fresh water. The construction of the Toker dam and other initiatives are aimed at addressing the city's water scarcity, but challenges related to rainfall, infrastructure, and water management remain.

[Zmeselo]

The capital Addis Ababa's main source of drinking water is the Gafsara dam built during the Italian occupation and rehabilitated in 2009. Wells and another dam complement the supply. This diagram shows the variability of rainfall in Ethiopia, here in the case of the capital Addis Abeba.

Addis Ababa faces a significant challenge with freshwater availability, experiencing a large gap between water demand and supply. The city relies on both surface and groundwater sources, but current production only meets about 40% of the daily requirement, according to a report from weaspire.info. This disparity leads to water rationing and unmet needs for many residents.

Here's a more detailed breakdown:

Sources of Freshwater:

Surface Water: Major sources include Gefersa, Legedadi, and Dire Dams.

Groundwater: Groundwater is extracted from the Akaki well field and other scattered wells and springs.

Challenges:

High Demand:

Rapid population growth, rural-to-urban migration, and increased water demand from industry have strained the city's water resources.

Supply-Demand Gap:

Existing water supply is insufficient to meet the city's needs.

Water Quality Concerns:

Some sources, particularly unprotected groundwater sources, are susceptible to contamination.

Unplanned Development:

Uncoordinated water resource development and high levels of non-revenue water (NRW) contribute to the problem.

Water Quality:

There are concerns about the quality of water from various sources, including groundwater and surface water.

Consequences:

Water Rationing: Many areas of the city experience water rationing, with limited access to water for several days a week.

Public Health Risks: Contaminated water contributes to waterborne diseases and other health issues.

Social and Economic Impacts: Water scarcity can hinder economic development and affect livelihoods.

Potential Solutions:

Diversifying Water Sources:

Developing new surface water sources and reservoirs is crucial.

Improving Water Management:

Addressing non-revenue water, implementing water conservation strategies, and improving infrastructure are necessary.

Regulating Groundwater Use:

Controlling unregulated drilling and pumping of groundwater is essential to prevent further depletion of aquifers.

Addressing Water Quality:

Ensuring safe water sources and promoting household water treatment are important steps.

Community Engagement:

Involving communities in water management and conservation efforts is vital.

[Zmeselo]

In Addis Ababa, electricity availability has improved, but power outages still occur. While access to electricity has increased in Ethiopia, reaching 55% of the population by 2022, according to the World Bank, power outages remain a challenge, especially in certain areas like the Ayat neighborhood. These outages can be caused by issues with the transmission and distribution lines, as well as scheduled outages.

Here's a more detailed look:

Increased Access:

Ethiopia has made significant strides in expanding electricity access, with a notable increase from 20% in 2015 to 55% in 2022 according to the World Bank.

Outages Persist:

Despite the progress, power outages are still a reality in Addis Ababa. The Reporter Ethiopia reports that some areas, like the Ayat neighborhood, experience frequent outages.

Causes of Outages:

Outages can stem from issues with the existing infrastructure, such as damaged transmission and distribution lines, and sometimes from scheduled power interruptions.

Impact on Residents:

Power outages can disrupt daily life, forcing residents to rely on alternative energy sources like charcoal, candles, or generators.

Infrastructure Improvements:

Efforts are underway to rehabilitate and upgrade the electricity grid in Addis Ababa and surrounding areas, including transmission and distribution networks.

Focus on Reliability:

Projects like the Addis Ababa Transmission and Distribution System Rehabilitation project aim to improve the reliability and affordability of power supply.

Diversification of Energy Sources:

Ethiopia is also working to diversify its energy sources, including increasing its reliance on renewable energy like solar, wind, and geothermal.