No. 18 saturday, July 18, 2020 Pages 4

Speci

al Ed

ition

Madam President,

The present resolution on Eritrea is a vivid illustration of the skewed power balance in this august body and reflects the continued and concerted campaign of certain western countries against Eritrea for sinister political objectives.

As we have stressed from the outset, the unwarranted harassment of Eritrea was conceived eight years ago as a residual option – Plan B so to speak – by certain powerful member States to reinforce and supplant if need be, the sanctions regime they had imposed on the country to advance the particular political objectives they were pursuing then. This was at a time when Eritrea, and the Horn of Africa in general, were entangled in simmering conflicts and wars. These powers were in a position then to solicit pliable partners in Africa to sponsor the Resolution and imbue an “African face” to their nefarious agenda.

That is not the case anymore. Eritrea and its partners in the Horn are earnestly engaged in nurturing a congenial climate and robust architecture of regional peace and cooperation. Eritrea, for its part, is funneling its undivided efforts to resume the heavy tasks of nation-building and reconstruction – in all its dimensions - after decades of interminable tensions and conflict with its neighbor.

In the event, Eritrea strongly rejects the obsolete Report of the SR and its conclusions. I will not waste your time to reiterate here Eritrea’s position on the SR Report as a comprehensive rebuttal to the worn-out, recycled and unfounded allegations was given and circulated at the time.

Eritrea welcomes and expresses its gratitude to all the countries who have boldly echoed its position during the interactive dialogue with the SR during this session.

Eritrea is committed to expand and strengthen its ongoing engagement within the framework of the UPR.

As we all agree, politicization, selectivity, and double standards were the cause for the failure of the previous Human Rights Commission, the predecessor of the HRC. Eritrea is very much concerned that this systemic malaise will continue to cast its dark shadow on the HRC as exclusive power blocs continue to undermine fundamental principles of law and fairness to advance their narrow, political interests. In this respect, Eritrea will continue to collaborate with other like-minded countries to modestly contribute in addressing this unjustified state of affairs perpetuated for geopolitical agendas and the vested interests of certain powers under the mantle of human rights.

For all these reasons, Eritrea requests all Member States who wish to advance genuine and balanced dialogue on human rights as well as the integrity and credibility of the HRC to vote against the current Resolution - A/HRC/44/L.8.

I thank you Geneva, 16 June 2020

EritrEa’s statEmEnt at HrC 44tH rEgular sEssion

Six COVID-19 patients who had been receiving necessary medical treatment in hospitals in the Northern Red Sea Region have recovered fully and were released from these facilities yesterday.

This brings the number of recovered patients to 155.

On the other hand, 19 patients were diagnosed positive for COVID-19 in tests carried out in Quarantine Centers in Gash Barka and Southern Region respectively. Out of the aggregate cases, 15 were quarantined in the environs of Adibara; 2 in Gergef; 1 in Ali-Gidir, Gash Barka Region; and the last one in Senafe, Southern Region.

All are nationals who returned from Sudan and Ethiopia through irregular land routes recently.

It is to be recalled that 42 patients have recovered fully and were released from hospitals in Gash Barka (37), Southern Region (4) and Central Region (1) this week.

The total number of confirmed cases in the county has now risen to 251.

155 of these have recovered fully and were released periodically from the respective hospitals while the remaining 102 continue to receive necessary medical treatment.

Ministry of HealthAsmara

16 July 2020

Eritrean nationals inside the country and abroad extended financial contribution in support of the Eritrean National War-Disabled Veterans’ Association and families of martyrs.

According to report, Eritrean community in Israel contributed 18 thousand and 90 Dollars in support of the Eritrean National War-Disabled Veterans, 16 thousand and 255 Dollars towards augmenting the Martyrs Trust Fund and 8 thousand in support of families of martyrs.

Similarly, according to report from the Eritrean Embassy in Switzerland, YPFDJ organization in Basel contributed 1 thousand and 500 dollars towards bolstering the Martyrs Trust Fund, family of Tekle Tesfamariam 500 dollars in support of families of martyrs and 500 dollars to bolster COVID-19 Trust Fund and Eritrean community in Schaffhausen 1 thousand and 875 dollars towards augmenting Martyrs Trust Fund.

In related news, employees of Project Management of the Ministry of Health in Gash Barka region contributed 11,222 to bolster the National Fund to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, and other small businesses and cooperative associations in Anseba and Central regions contributed a total of 28, 279 Nakfa.

Contribution to augmEnt martyrs trust Fund

announCEmEnt From tHE ministry oF HEaltH

Ms. Amina Nurhusein, Minister of Health, accompanied by the Governor of the Northern Red Sea region, Ms. Asmeret Abraha conducted tour of inspection on 15 and 16 July to health facilities in Kelhamet and Afabet towns, Afabet sub-zone.

In the course of her tour, Minister Amina held discussion with heads of the health facilities as well as area administrators.

In the discussion, Minister Amina

tour oF inspECtion to HEaltH FaCilitiEs

expressed readiness of the Ministry in cooperation with the administrations to equip the health facilities with necessary equipment and manpower with a view to enable them provide improved health care service to the public.

Indicating that regrouping of villages is the groundwork for development, Ms. Asmaret on her part called on the residents to strengthen participation in the program so that they become beneficiaries of social service provision institutions.

The two officials also visited the progress of the construction of the dams at the administrative areas of Gebgeb and Mihdaf.

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Azmera BerhaneSara Alem

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Sara Alem

Published Every Saturday & Wednesday

Acting Editor Amanuel Mesfunamme@zena.gov.er

P.O.Box: 247Tel: 11-41-14Fax: 12-77-49

E-mail:profile@zena.gov.er

Advertisement: 12-50-13

LayoutAzmera Berhane

Sara Alem

Published Every Wednesday & saturday

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Aida Johar

Ruth Abraham

As much as we humans are pacing to the extremes of advancement, the earth is coming to the extremes of degradation and negative transformation. We have reached a stage where our survival is being threatened mainly due to our unreasonable extraction of resources and emission of waste. For many years now, the natural setting of the world has been gradually changing into an environment that is less suitable for its habitants. It might already be late now, but it is never too late to take action.

On January 30, 1995, the

United Nations General Assembly officially proclaimed June 17 as the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification and Drought day, later named as World’s

Restoring the ecosystem of eritreaDesertification and Drought Observance day. This was done to raise a worldwide awareness of people about drought and land degradation or desertification.

This year, Desertification and Drought day, which focused on the link between consumption and land, was hosted by Korea Forest Service online with a full-day’s programs featuring a variety of exciting event. It was conducted under the theme ‘food, feed and fiber’, underlining the fatal effects the food, feed and fiber industry is posing to the earth.

It all started to go wrong when nations began to develop and

modernize, demanding extensive amounts of resources to meet the needs of their people’s new lifestyles. Increased wealth and urbanization are seeking more land for food, animal feed and clothing, which is fiber.

And the productivity of the remaining arable land is declining and the climate is also changing, further contributing to desertification.

According to a statistical report of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), today, more than two billion hectares of previously productive land is degraded, leaving over 70 percent of natural ecosystems affected. By 2050, this could reach 90 percent. By 2030, food production will require an additional 300 million hectares of land and the fashion industry is predicted to use 35 percent more land – which is over 115 million hectares. Clothing and footwear production causes 8 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, a figure predicted to rise to almost 50 percent by 2030.

Of course, dietary change can

free up between 80 and 240 million hectares of land and eliminating waste can free up land used to produce 1.3 billion tons of food, which reserves 1.4 billion hectares of land. But with the most basic of our needs being the products of the land, nothing could be more devastating than the fact that it is running out of service.

In his address on June 17, 2020, Mr. Ibrahim Thiew, Executive Secretary of the UNCCD, said: “If we keep producing and consuming as usual, we will eat into the planet’s capacity to sustain life until there is nothing left but scraps. We all need to make better choices about what we eat and what we wear to help protect and restore the land.” That way, we can embrace the benefits of the land and ensure our survival. As many scholars agree, desertification and climate change, both individually and in combination, are reducing the provision of dry land ecosystem services and negatively affecting ecosystem health, including losses in biodiversity.

In Eritrea, since most of the people depend on agriculture for their livelihood, land is a center of gravity for most of the government’s policies. For this reason, the Government of Eritrea has been working prudently to improve land productivity and to minimize land degradation. To restore degraded land and improve land productivity, the Government of Eritrea has been taking major

initiatives including farm soil and water conservation programs, construction of water reservoirs as well as launching of the Greening Campaign.

In spite of that, Eritrea’s natural location makes it prone to adverse effects of drought and desertification. This natural challenge is aggravated by man-made interferences such as the cutting of trees for fire wood and to expand farm land and overgrazing.

In order to mitigate the effects of drought and desertification in Eritrea, the following actions must be enforced.

Every renovation begins with raising awareness of the public. That is why concerned government bodies have been working to raise people’s awareness about the importance of the conservation of the environment, in general, and the conservation of soil fertility, in particular. That was supported by promoting community-based activities to improve land productivity and by harvesting water from all kinds of sources and using it in improving agricultural productivity.

For people to stop cutting trees down for fire wood and construction, an alternative source of energy and house construction material should be provided. For this reason, the Eritrean Government has been working to

2 No.18Eritrea Profile, saturday, July 18, 2020

introduce sustainable alternative sources of energy and construct permanent stone-made housing settlements for the people.

Though Eritrea is one of the countries that are in great danger of desertification, the issue is relevant to all countries and seeks global cooperation. Hence, fostering regional and international engagements through pragmatic initiatives is one of the measures that are being taken to combat desertification.

According to Mr. Fitsum Hagos, Director of Wild Life Conservation at the Forestry and Wild Life Authority, the Eritrean Government has mapped 14 forest and wild life protected land in different parts of the country, including Hawashayt, Nakfa, Dige and Rahrihe. However only six of them, namely, Gash Setit Elephant Sanctuary, Semienawi-Debubawi Green Belts, Dahlak Island Forest and Wild Life Reservation, Ber’asole and Kerkebet, are being actively worked on.

Desertification is caused by many factors that influence one another. They include climate change, the amount of rainfall and soil salinity. However, the factor that is by far the most responsible for the catastrophe is humans’ relentless production and consumption rates. For this reason only humans can put a stop to this by cutting down production or by designing a more eco-friendly means of production.

3 No.18Eritrea Profile, saturday, July 18, 2020

Natnael Yebio W.

With over 12.3 million confirmed cases of COVID-19 worldwide, there hasn’t been a better time than right now to write about sick people. This writer has taken the time to look at how different cultures view illness. From the funny to the absurd, here is a piece to start off your weekend.

According to the early Greek philosophers, people got sick because there was some kind of imbalance in their body humor or fluid.

According to the traditional belief, a person is taken ill for two reasons: either the body is not functioning well or the soul has been disturbed by evil forces.

For the first case, traditional healing methods, starting from herbal treatment to bleeding or rubbing the body with various concoctions, are tried. When they fail, the patient is taken to traditional spas where hydro-shock methods are used: the sick person is made to stand under a waterfall early in the morning. The chilly water tapping on his skull does the trick. The patron saint of the place is, of course, there to expedite the cure.

“Why am I sick?” asks aunt Tsehai. Could it be the Good Lord’s countenance in my demise?

“How are you aunt Tsehai? Are you feeling okay?”

“Well, let’s pray that nothing more terrible that this becomes my lot?”

Aunt Tsehai has been bedridden for the last fifteen days. What’s her problem? Why is she not seeing the doctor?

The world is such a terrible place to live in that from time to time human beings have to learn to take things for granted. Going to the doctor means refusing to take your share of misery in this cursed world.

If aunt Tsehai is lying in bed groaning and moaning the whole

Traditional Beliefs on Sicknessnight, it is something she says she has to face in life. But anyway she prefers to get her medical treatment at home. The moment her family decides to take her to hospital, her optimism declines and her chances of survival with it.

So the neighbors think it is their duty to visit her and console her.

“You will soon get well. The Lord has the power to heal.”

“Well, if He thinks I am not needed here anymore, let Him do

as He pleases.”

On the night table by the bedside stand bottles of milk, juice and small bags full of fruits, oranges and bananas. They had been put there by the visiting guests. But aunt Tsehai has neither the force nor the appetite to drink the milk or eat the fruits. So they will be sitting there for a day or two until they mysteriously disappear probably feasted upon by the younger members of the family.

Once, an Eritrean abroad went with a friend of his to an Italian hospital to visit a mutual friend with a serious bullet wound to his leg. They brought a bottle of milk and some bananas.

His friend had told him to

take flowers instead of bananas. “Flowers are symbols of freshness and good health,” he tried to convince him and Europeans prefer flowers to a bottle of milk. But the Eritrean insisted that either the patient respect his tradition or to hell with him.

As they walked along the doorway, they saw his name written on a door. He was, the Eritrean thought, inside, gravely sick and probably groaning. But the door said otherwise: No visitors allowed for the moment. ‘What?’ he wondered. We came

all the way to visit this person and what do we see written on the white door?

They asked what the reason was and got a reply that he needed absolute peace. Absolute peace, my foot! muttered the Eritrean.

You see, human beings have more power to impact the desired peace than anything else?

“What’s wrong with these Westerners? Doesn’t chatting with those who love you have more healing effect than staring blankly at the ceiling?” he continued dismayed.

As they turned to leave, he could see through the door left ajar that the patient was reading

his favorite magazine.

They didn’t know what to do with the bottle of milk or the banana. They entered a small teashop, ordered tea and took the chance to finish the contents of the bottle and the bag undiscovered by the idiot.

The same person, back home at his beloved country now, made it his habit, following humiliating experiences in the past, to visit relatives before they expired. But this one, Tesfai, was not in a hurry to depart this world. However for the people from the country-side who came to visit him in his ward, he might as well have left the tears earlier for his leg had been amputated by the doctor. According to Eritrean country men, a one-legged man is as good as a dead man.

So the womenfolk among the visitors began to cry and weep before the eyes of the surprised patient. When he told them to stop crying, they began to put together their stuff for a coffee ceremony with a glowing brazier right in the middle of the hospital ward. And all the time they never stopped mentioning his misery and misfortune.

“What a plight, what a calamity,” the ladies would whine.

The amputee could say nothing but stare at the ceiling asking himself where he went wrong.

In our culture a good visitor is the one who visits a sick relative while the former is alive and kicking. Going to the funeral of a person one has forgotten to visit in the house or in the hospital rubs one’s conscience the wrong way.

One Sunday afternoon, Tesfai, back when he still had both his legs intact, went to the hospital to visit a friend. He knew he was still in the hospital because most patients stay a week or two before they are discharged dead or alive. As usual he had his kilo of bananas inside a paper bag ready with him.

The hospital gate opened exactly at 1pm. The queue was long and he had to wait for some

time before it was his turn to have the contents of his bag sniffed by the Derg soldiers stationed at the gate.

He could see the person who was right in front of him carrying a bag containing three pieces of bananas. Tesfai knew the man was poor, but inside he was very rich. At least he remembered his friend lying desperate in some of the hospital wards.

When Tesfai’s turn came, the Derg solider did not sniff at his bananas. But the lady who was behind him was told to reveal the contents of her siltania (lid-covered enameled bowl). Derg soldiers hated covered containers, for they thought they contained plastic bombs for blowing up the hospital administration and personnel.

Tesfai’s friend was in ward B or was it ward D? Anyway he walked along with other visitors and located the block and the room. Inside were about fifteen visitors sitting on both sides of the three beds and chatting forgetful of the patients. The night tables were laden with milk bottles and fruits. Tesfai looked around but could not spot his friend. He asked one of the patients the whereabouts of the missing friend.

“Are you a relative?” the patient asked in somber voice.

“I am his friend,” Tesfai replied.

“A real friend?” he inquired.

“I beg your pardon?” Tesfai asked perplexed.

“Teklai had left about three weeks ago,” the patient sighed.

“Where did he go?”

“He went the way of all flesh.”

That served Tesfai right. All he had to do was make frequent visits to enquire about his friend’s health. He felt miserable that he was not there when his friend died.

He donated his kilo of bananas to the patient and left.

By: Dr. Fikrejesus Amahazion

*Note: the following is a collection of brief thoughts on recent happenings and issues related to Eritrea.

1. On the fact that peace is a continuous process, not a solitary event…

Two short years ago, in July 2018, Eritrean President IsaiasAfwerki and Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed signed the Joint Declaration of Peace and Friendship, in Asmara.

While they were bold, courageous, and visionary, in addition to catching many people by sheer surprise, it must be understood that the initiatives taken by the two leaders and governments were only the first initial steps in what is a long and difficult road. Without wanting to downplay the undoubted importance of the agreements, peace is not a solitary event and it does not arise from the act of putting pen to paper. Nor can peace simply be seen as the absence of violence. Rather, peace is difficult and hard, in addition to being complex, dynamic, and inclusive. It is a continuous process that requires constant culti vation and may necessitate a long period of time and effort before its true benefits are realized.

In that light, we should all recognize and readily expect that there will be many, many immense challenges ahead and much considerable work will have to be completed. Of course, the smooth implementation of all key pillars of the agreement has not progressed with the desired pace. . Here we should also not forget that several negative elements and forces (albeit small in number) have and are actively working to counter the positive developments. However, the fact that the road will be long and despite the bumps that may be encountered, does not mean should not dampen our determination to push for higher results with more vigoour. This is guaranteed, in some ways, by the reservoir of political good will that prevalent in both countries. In reality, As put by that great giant of peace and justice, Martin

Random Thoughts and Musings

4 No . 18Eritrea Profile, saturday, July 18. 2020

Luther King, Jr., “We must learn to live together as brothers, or we will perish together as fools.”

2. On how positive it is to see Eritreans coming together…

The recent article by Simon Weldemichael, “The Invaluable Lessons of Covid-19”, presented many useful insights and raised a number ofquestionsworth pondering in relation to the local and global Covid-19 situation.To date, our country has recorded a little over 200 confirmed cases, with no deaths, thankfully. In addition to some of the key factors pointed out by Simon,an important dimension of thenational response to Covid-19in Eritrea has been the great professionalism, generosity,selflessness, and dedicationthat have been demonstrated by so many Eritreans, both here at home and across the world.As with our longbattle for liberation, the bitter fight to maintain our territorial independence and sovereignty, and the struggle against international sanctions, Eritreans of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds have come togetherin unity to fight Covid-19 and to ensure that no one is left behind.

From here on the ground in Eritrea, ithas been deeplytouching and extremely inspiring to observe. It makes one absolutely proud of the people and it serves as a great reminder of the

goodness of humanity. Moving forward, as our nation carries on what will likely be an extended battleagainst Covid-19 and also seeks to overcome the various related issues and challenges that will arise (such as economic), it will be vital for Eritreansto remain united, stay vigilant, and continue their great generosity.

3.On how a local television program is confronting important social issues…

If you have not yet had the chance to do so, I would recommend that you tune in to the local comedy show, “EndaZemam”. Fresh episodes of the show regularly air on EriTV during Sunday afternoons, with reruns usually availableon different days throughout the week.The show,basically centered upon a local café and the eventful lives of its diverse group of employees and regular customers, is highly entertaining and generally very funny. In addition, however, the program is also unique for broaching and confronting important social issuesthat are apparent in our country.

For instance, past episodes of the show have focused on divorce and challenges with employment. During the last episode of the show, which aired last week,the spotlight was shoneon domestic violence and gender stratification.To briefly recap, one of the female

characters, an unfortunate victim of domestic violence, sought to address the problem through turning to a traditional form of resolution, called shemagelle, which can be generally understood asa type of“council of elders”. Some of her coworkers, however, regarded the shemagelle process as being plagued by a significant problem: it was comprised of all men, thereforeoverlooking the important views and perspectives of women. Feeling more than a little frustrated and disappointed with the situation, the coworkerspushed for the inclusion of womenin the shemagelleprocess. In the end, the issue was satisfactorily resolved and there was the proverbial “happily ever after” ending– all due to the traditional shemagelle process, with the added progressive twist of women being included.

To be certain, the topics raised in

the last episode of “EndaZemam”, domestic violence and gender stratification, are not trivial or minor. Domestic violence, which involves a pattern of assaultive and coercive behaviors perpetrated by intimate partners and other family members, is a global problem. It is present in every country and occurs in all settings, cutting across boundaries of culture, religion, class, education, income, ethnicity, and age. Around the world, domestic violence represents a significant socio-economic, health, and development issue, while it is also widely recognized as a grave violation of fundamental and basic human rights. Similarly, gender stratification, basically defined as males’ and females’ unequal access to property, power, and prestige, is a significant problem and it isreadily apparent in all societies around the world. Notably, the fundamental significance of gender equality is reflected in the fact that it is one of the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals, which are a global set of goals for all countries – low-, middle-, and high-income – to meet by 2030.

Here in Eritrea, despite substantial progress and noticeable improvements, domestic violence and gender stratification can unfortunately still be found. Rather than simply dismissing these issues, however, it is crucial that they continue tobe openly discussedandconfronted. Well done and two thumbs up to the creators and producers of “EndaZemam” who have not just delivered a highly entertaining and extremely funny show, but also helped to shinea critical light on some of the important social issuesaffecting our country.