Roles and responsibilities
By Zewge Fanta
August 5, 2006
According to sources such as the Solidarity Committee for Ethiopian Political Prisoners (SOCEPP), the number of Ethiopians directly affected by the on-going war in Lebanon is about 50,000. They are all being exposed to grave and life threatening danger as the situation in Lebanon worsens. These are the people who were working in Lebanon at very low levels. They have been working under extreme difficulties. Many do not even hold their passports as they are confiscated by their employers. They are stranded, abandoned and exposed to constant bombardments that threaten their lives. They are now short of the basic necessities for life. They are displaced. They are crying for help.
A few have been taken by their employers. The Vast majority have been abandoned. Some dozen have already been wounded. Some of them have already lost their lives. While other countries are reaching and saving the lives of their citizens, the Ethiopian Government did not yet show any significant initiative.
Millions of Ethiopians are forced to leave their beloved country and move to different countries in the world.
Many have to run away to save their lives from the brutal dictatorial regime. Others leave in pursuits of education as the educational system in Ethiopia has totally collapsed. It is a country where boys and girls at the ages of 14-15 are thrown on the streets after the completion of only 10th grade. It is only the very few mostly belonging to the regime who can afford private schools to their children in the country and abroad using the wealth accumulated from looting the national treasury. Others ran away from the rampant unemployment mainly because of the ethnically based policies of the regime.
Some perish on the way while crossing the Sahara Desert on old, broken and extremely overcrowded vans. Some end up sinking in the Red Sea from old and overcrowded boats. Some end up on the roads while taking agonizing long routes to Southern Africa.
Even after reaching the final destinations, they start to cope with various problems, including residence permits, housing, education and employment. Most of them will take up very low jobs such as domestic services in the Middle East. They face cultural and religious problems. There are many cases of murders and even suicides.
Our Sincere Plea
The plight of our fellow citizens stranded and endangered in Lebanon is the question of our common concern. The problem can even get worse. It could probably extend to neighbouring and other countries. Therefore, our sincere plea to all Ethiopians in the UK and all over the World is to cooperate in the following areas, among others:
- Let us all campaign together to lobby relevant international bodies such as the International Committee of the Red Cross, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the Amnesty International, etc. to render their assistances in the form of financial support, resettlement in alternative safe countries, etc.
- All efforts must be made to stop the harassment of all Ethiopians in Lebanon labeling them with this or that religious groups. They do not have any thing to do with the political problems in the Middle East. They happened to be there just like all other Ethiopians who are scattered all over the World.
- Let each of us, individually or in groups follow up the fate of our people through various media, Phones, relevant Internets websites and radios
- If ways are found to reach them, let us make financial contributions and send them through reliable and independent routes.
We are closely following up the matter. As soon as we get concrete information on how to reach them, we will contact you for a coordinated fundraising.
As a fragment we lose;
Together we win!!!
United Ethiopian Democratic Forces Support Committee
In the United Kingdom
05, Augst, 2006
London
ETHIOMEDIA.COM - ETHIOPIA'S PREMIER NEWS AND VIEWS WEBSITE
© COPYRIGHT 20001-2006ETHIOMEDIA.COM. EMAIL: webmaster@ethiomedia.com
August 5, 2006
According to sources such as the Solidarity Committee for Ethiopian Political Prisoners (SOCEPP), the number of Ethiopians directly affected by the on-going war in Lebanon is about 50,000. They are all being exposed to grave and life threatening danger as the situation in Lebanon worsens. These are the people who were working in Lebanon at very low levels. They have been working under extreme difficulties. Many do not even hold their passports as they are confiscated by their employers. They are stranded, abandoned and exposed to constant bombardments that threaten their lives. They are now short of the basic necessities for life. They are displaced. They are crying for help.
A few have been taken by their employers. The Vast majority have been abandoned. Some dozen have already been wounded. Some of them have already lost their lives. While other countries are reaching and saving the lives of their citizens, the Ethiopian Government did not yet show any significant initiative. Millions of Ethiopians are forced to leave their beloved country and move to different countries in the world.
Many have to run away to save their lives from the brutal dictatorial regime. Others leave in pursuits of education as the educational system in Ethiopia has totally collapsed. It is a country where boys and girls at the ages of 14-15 are thrown on the streets after the completion of only 10th grade. It is only the very few mostly belonging to the regime who can afford private schools to their children in the country and abroad using the wealth accumulated from looting the national treasury. Others ran away from the rampant unemployment mainly because of the ethnically based policies of the regime.
Some perish on the way while crossing the Sahara Desert on old, broken and extremely overcrowded vans. Some end up sinking in the Red Sea from old and overcrowded boats. Some end up on the roads while taking agonizing long routes to Southern Africa.
Even after reaching the final destinations, they start to cope with various problems, including residence permits, housing, education and employment. Most of them will take up very low jobs such as domestic services in the Middle East. They face cultural and religious problems. There are many cases of murders and even suicides.
Our Sincere Plea
The plight of our fellow citizens stranded and endangered in Lebanon is the question of our common concern. The problem can even get worse. It could probably extend to neighbouring and other countries. Therefore, our sincere plea to all Ethiopians in the UK and all over the World is to cooperate in the following areas, among others:
- Let us all campaign together to lobby relevant international bodies such as the International Committee of the Red Cross, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the Amnesty International, etc. to render their assistances in the form of financial support, resettlement in alternative safe countries, etc.
- All efforts must be made to stop the harassment of all Ethiopians in Lebanon labeling them with this or that religious groups. They do not have any thing to do with the political problems in the Middle East. They happened to be there just like all other Ethiopians who are scattered all over the World.
- Let each of us, individually or in groups follow up the fate of our people through various media, Phones, relevant Internets websites and radios
- If ways are found to reach them, let us make financial contributions and send them through reliable and independent routes.
We are closely following up the matter. As soon as we get concrete information on how to reach them, we will contact you for a coordinated fundraising.
As a fragment we lose;
Together we win!!!
United Ethiopian Democratic Forces Support Committee
In the United Kingdom
05, Augst, 2006
London
ETHIOMEDIA.COM - ETHIOPIA'S PREMIER NEWS AND VIEWS WEBSITE
© COPYRIGHT 20001-2006ETHIOMEDIA.COM. EMAIL: webmaster@ethiomedia.com
