Somai Zone: Improved Regional Development Record Tainted by Tribal Conflict

Febuary 5, 2003

Addis, Febuary 5, 2003 (JNA) – A report by the Somali Zone's rights group focuses says that the plight of the Somali zone's citizens of both in Somali state and Oromo Zone who were uprooted and deprived of their residence during the worest regional droughts and ethnic wars has yet to be resolved."There is no justification for the horrendous treatment these people suffered," said Somali Zone rights group, spokesperson. "What is worse is that, despite all the federal assistance since the conflict end, they still have no resolution: property claims remain unresolved and many districts have no regional administration assistance and contacts," he added.

The Somali Zone President Dr.Abdurashid Dullane Raffle urged Somali elders, buisiness people and tribal leaders to use their influence to resolve the crisis in Somali National Regional State (SNRS). Addressing to the regional governers and District administrators, he called on them to wield pressure through their power to ensure a peaceful resolution to the ethnic wars and drought crisis.

He also told the tribal leaders they had a duty to impoverished somali people in Ethiopia whose lives had been destroyed by war."In particular, we continue to be confronted by the challenge of peace and stability on our regional state," he said. "Events in this regard have emphasised the need for us urgently to constitute the Peace and Security groups on which we have already decided.

His call for peace was echoed by the Prime Minster Melez Zenawi who said that the ethnic and drought crisis of the Somali national regional state was "of grave concern". He added that the various conflicts in Ethiopia were "extremely distressing".Meanwhile, Ethiopian Minister of Mining, Ambassador mohamoud Dirir Gheddi declared that only Somali Zones unity would enable the region to escape its dire poverty and tribal conflicts.He told regional governors that the Somali zone faced a continuous "life and death" struggle to overcome the enormous challenges."Nothing short of the strongest unity among the Somali zone warades and its people will do for us to overcome the challenges we face,"

Jigjiga News Agency (JNA) Febuary 5, 2003

Somalis in Ethiopia Meet to Plan Fight Against Current Regional Administration

January 29, 2003

Jigjiga News Agency (JNA), Addis – Somali zone’s political parties have been warned they face increasing threats of oppression as they build there support and influence. Organizing at the first major underground conference of the Somali Zone parties since the parties began around 12 years ago, president of the Somali Parties Federation in Dire dawa said his party was being attacked by the Jigjiga Regional Government following its winning of 69 per cent of the vote in a recent election.

The president told the underground conference, being held over three days in the Dire dawa capital of Gurgure/Aisa Zone, that two party members had been imprisoned and tortured for attempting to save a Dire Dawa to be part of Somali Regional State.

He said such oppressive measures were likely to increase, meaning Somali Zone parties needed to unite regionally to protect their City (Dire dawa) and their beliefs. "Why? Because we do the right things, we get attacked every day, they don’t want us to talk about our city Dire dawa," he said.

One of the key developments from the underground conference will be the likely ratification of a charter or manifesto for Somali Regional State parties and groups to be adopted regionally.

The charter, and an accompanying policy document, will be used to unite and rally Somali groups in Ethiopia, particularly to regain their beloved city of Dire dawa.

A member of regional parliament and leader of Godey development agency told the conference “Somali parties shared a common optimism, which helped sustain them in the face of antagonistic regional political systems and its party SPDP”. He said Somali Zone parties had to give a voice to the "silent messages" from the Somali State’s people (Somali National Regional State –Ethiopia) and the Somali city (Dire dawa) and act as the voice of future generations. "This is what Federation of Somali Zone parties are for," he said.

A member of regional Parliament from Qabridahar zone and the Vice chairman of the underground conference said the biggest difference between the current ruling party (SPDP) and the Federation of Somali Zone parties is the willingness to think long-term (reconstruction and development of Somali people in Ethiopia).

He said above every member of the federation of Somali zone parties should be the words: "In all we are doing here, will people in 100 years thank us for it? " "In securing the future of the Somali zone, we secure happiness for the Somali regional state and the people of federal Ethiopia. One of the aims of the Federation of Somali parties is to turn around the tide of pessimism amongst the young people of the Somali region," conference spokesman said.

Jigjiga News Agency (JNA) January 29, 2003

Will the Federal Ethiopia fail Somali Zone?

Jigjiga, Janaury 22nd, (JNA)— The Ethiopian government is in danger of failing the people of Somali Zone as drought threatens millions of lives, according to the regional and federal relief agencies in Ethiopia. A sustained drought across the Somali State has left 2 million people facing shortages of food and water. The worst conditions are in south east of the Somali State where 1.1 million are affected and almost 900,000 people are in particular need; people are already dying. Yet the aid that the Somalis need to survive this year is not coming in fast enough. The Somali Regional Administration estimates that 500,000 metric tonnes of food aid will be required this year; only 100 MT have arrived so far. There is a severe shortage of high-energy food needed by people, particularly children, who are already malnourished. In January, the Somali Regional Relief Agencies appealed for $10 million of assistance to provide water,food, healthcare and help with crops; just less than $1 million has been received. And these needs are likely to rise. .

The regional disater and rehabilation office said, "The crisis we see in Fiiq, Godey, Dhagahbour, Raaso and Shinnile zones could easily be repeated across the Somali Region and Ethiopia. The Federal Government can’t wait for that to happen. It must act now: Get the food in and make serious preparations for healthcare and water provision." .

A lesson of the Ethiopian famine of the 1980’s was that food reserves needed to be maintained in Ethiopia but they have fallen dangerously low. Food aid commitments have not been met in recent years so stocks have not been replenished and this year’s food pledges have not yet arrived. The need for food aid is more acute and has not come earlier this year because of the years of drought. The Regional Administration can not purchase 400,000 metric tonnes of food for distribution. This could be a valuable contribution to the aid effort but the ongoing conflict between ethnic tribal wars and the luck of regional administration will undoubtedly affect the Somali Zone’s ability to respond. With famine threatening Somali Zone and drought and food shortages in Ethiopia the value of development and social peace is now higher than ever. ;.

Jigjiga News Agency (JNA) January 26th, 2003

Drought-hit people fleeing their homes from Somali Zone, Ethiopia

Jigjiga, Janaury 22nd, (JNA)— The drought, which is afflicting the regions across Ethiopia, is spreading to new areas of the Somali Zone of Ethiopia. The United Nations has released a report indicating that areas of Eastern Ethiopia are now at risk, although still not as badly hit as the south of the country. - The Somali Zone Agricultural and Rural Development Desk Head said that 250,235 of the drought victims are staying at a locality called Fiiq, Xamaro, and Raaso District and the rest in Dhagahbour and Aware Area. The number of drought-hit people who are fleeing their homes from Eastern and Southern Somali State as well as Arssi zones into Bale Zone, Oromia State, is increasing. The affected people have requested the state government to resettle them in other areas .

The number of people who are taking shelters at three areas of Raaso and Bale after fleeing from seven Districts of Eastern and middle Somali Region zones as well as from Sheykosh District of Qabridahar Zone has now reached 525,500 from only 250,000 previously. The President of Somali Region was speaking on Tuesday when a team drawn from various organizations visited the dislocated people. The President said a study was well underway to resettle the victims in three other District in the zone.The resettlement program is expected to be implemented during the current Ethiopian year .

He said 5,800 quintals of food grain and nearly 3,500 litters of cooking oil are being provided to the affected people currently by various organizations. ;.

Jigjiga News Agency (JNA) January 22th, 2003