8
Vol. 25 No. 34 Wednesday, June 27, 2018 Pages 8, Price 2.00 NFA A total of 4.3 billion Nakfa has been expended to martyrs families over the past 14 years, Mr. Zerai Tekleab, Director of Welfare branch in the Ministry of Labor and Human Welfare, indicated. Mr. Zerai stated that martyrs families receive financial support 4 times a year in 1-5 permanent centers in every region and a total of 37 mobile sites. According ot documents of the Ministry of Labor and Human Welfare, the government makes an annual expenditure of 350 million Nakfa to assist martyrs families and that 85 thousand families have become beneficiaries of the program. Apart from the regular financial support, vocational training is also provided to families of the martyrs and that beneficiaries are offered with material support to help them start businesses and encouraging outcome have been registered, Mr. Zerai underscored. Noting that assisting families of martyrs is one of the values of the Eritrean people, Mr. Zerai stated that citizens inside the country and abroad have been extending financial support and that they have contributed over 1.2 million Nakfa to augment the Martyrs’ Trust Fund. The managing director of Tesenei sub-zone, Mr. Tesfazghi, said that over the past 10 years a total of 673 families were rehabilitated with financial and material support worth over 8 million Nakfa. The program was implemented with strong participation and contribution of nationals. The program will continue with the support of 100 martyrs families engaged in farming activities. REHABILITATION OF MARTYRS FAMILIES IN TESENEI FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO MARTYRS FAMILIES A senior Eritrean delegation composed of Mr. Osman Saleh, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Mr. Yemane Gebreab, Presidential Advisor, have arrived in Addis The National Association of Eritrean War Disabled Veterans branch in Southern region has disbursed over 1.1 million Nakfa interest-free loans to 95 women war disabled veterans. The objective of the loan was to enable the disabled veterans engage themselves in small scale trade and farming and thereby improve their livelihood and become productive members of the society. According to report the disabled veterans were provided with 12,500 Nakfa each. Noting that the branch association is making an effort to encourage female disabled veterans engage themselves in activities of their preference, Mr. Tesfaledet Mengistu, called on the women to make good use of the loan provided. He also said that the association is making continuous follow up on the situation of the women disable veterans in addition to providing training on financial management. A total of 151 students including 44 females have graduated with certificate from Wina Technical Boarding School in Nakfa. The Director of the school, Mr. Kaleab Zereu, said that the graduates pursued a two-year training in different fields including auto mechanics, metal and wood works, construction, electricity, drafting and planning. Mr. Kaleab called on the graduates to upgrade their skills, live up to the expectation and make due contribution in the nation-building drive. Wina Technical Boarding School set-up during the armed struggle for liberation in 1985 has so far graduated over 2,905 students including 730 females. SENIOR ERITREAN DELEGATION ARRIVES IN ADDIS ABABA GRADUATES FROM WINA TECHNICAL BOARDING SCHOOL INTEREST-FREE LOAN TO DISABLED WOMEN NEWS BRIEF Ababa, Ethiopia, in the afternoon hours yesterday. Upon arrival at Bole International Airport, the Eritrean delegation was accorded warm welcome by the Ethiopian Prime Minister, Dr. Abiy Ahmed, Foreign Minister, Dr. Workneh Gebeyehu, as well as other senior Ethiopian officials. As it will be recalled, President Isaias Afwerki had stated, in his speech on Martyrs Day last week (June 20 th ), that Eritrea “…will send, outside myopic considerations of public relations stunts and advantages, a delegation to Addis Abba to gauge current developments directly and in depth as well as to chart out a plan for continuous future action”. In related news, the Ministry of Labor and Human Welfare extended material to families of martyrs and disadvantaged citizens in various regions. According to report, 366 carts were distributed to 150 families in Forto Sawa, 90 families in Hagaz, 50 families in Logo- Anseba, 40 families in Afabet, 20 families in Areza and 16 families in Halhal. The representative of the Ministry of Labor and Human Welfare in Fort Sawa sub-zone, Mr. Okbamariam Tekle, and the Administrator of Log-Anseba sub-zone, Mr. Abraham Hagos, said that the support was made to enable the families become self-supportive and productive members of the society. Mr. Solomon Mehari, Head of the ministry’s branch office in Hagaz sub-zone, also said that the support was made to 90 families including 39 females in the administrative areas of Hashishay, Adalet, Harinet, Golia, Badob, Fana, Ad-Fakai, Shengen, Awenjeli, Gilas, Enchinak and Idamir. The beneficiary families expressed appreciation for the support extended.

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Page 1: Vol. 25 No. 34 Wednesday, June 27, 2018 Pages 8, Price 2 ...50.7.16.234/hadas-eritrea/eritrea_profile_27062018.pdfMost of the people in rural ... NCDs due to change in life style are

Vol. 25 No. 34 Wednesday, June 27, 2018 Pages 8, Price 2.00 NFA

A total of 4.3 billion Nakfa has been expended to martyrs families over the past 14 years, Mr. Zerai Tekleab, Director of Welfare branch in the Ministry of Labor and Human Welfare, indicated.

Mr. Zerai stated that martyrs families receive financial support 4 times a year in 1-5 permanent centers in every region and a total of 37 mobile sites. According ot documents of the Ministry of Labor and Human Welfare, the government makes an annual expenditure of 350 million Nakfa to assist martyrs families and that 85 thousand families have become beneficiaries of the program.

Apart from the regular financial support, vocational training is also provided to families of the martyrs and that beneficiaries are offered with material support to help them start businesses and encouraging outcome have been registered, Mr. Zerai underscored.

Noting that assisting families of martyrs is one of the values of the Eritrean people, Mr. Zerai stated that citizens inside the country and abroad have been extending financial support and that they have contributed over 1.2 million Nakfa to augment the Martyrs’ Trust Fund.

The managing director of Tesenei sub-zone, Mr. Tesfazghi, said that over the past 10 years a total of 673 families were rehabilitated with financial and material support worth over 8 million Nakfa.

The program was implemented with strong participation and contribution of nationals. The program will continue with the support of 100 martyrs families engaged in farming activities.

Rehabilitation of MaRtyRs faMilies in tesenei

financial suppoRt to MaRtyRs faMilies

A senior Eritrean delegation composed of Mr. Osman Saleh, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Mr. Yemane Gebreab, Presidential Advisor, have arrived in Addis

The National Association of Eritrean War Disabled Veterans branch in Southern region has disbursed over 1.1 million Nakfa interest-free loans to 95 women war disabled veterans.

The objective of the loan was to enable the disabled veterans engage themselves in small scale trade and farming and thereby improve their livelihood and become productive members of the society. According to report the disabled veterans were provided with 12,500 Nakfa each.

Noting that the branch association is making an effort to encourage female disabled veterans engage themselves in activities of their preference, Mr. Tesfaledet Mengistu, called on the women to make good use of the loan provided.

He also said that the association is making continuous follow up on the situation of the women disable veterans in addition to providing training on financial management.

A total of 151 students including 44 females have graduated with certificate from Wina Technical Boarding School in Nakfa.

The Director of the school, Mr. Kaleab Zereu, said that the graduates pursued a two-year training in different fields including auto mechanics, metal and wood works, construction, electricity, drafting and planning.

Mr. Kaleab called on the graduates to upgrade their skills, live up to the expectation and make due contribution in the nation-building drive.

Wina Technical Boarding School set-up during the armed struggle for liberation in 1985 has so far graduated over 2,905 students including 730 females.

senioR eRitRean delegation aRRives in addis ababa

gRaduates fRoM Wina technical boaRding school

inteRest-fRee loan to disabled WoMen

neWs bRief

Ababa, Ethiopia, in the afternoon hours yesterday.

Upon arrival at Bole International Airport, the Eritrean delegation was accorded warm welcome by

the Ethiopian Prime Minister, Dr. Abiy Ahmed, Foreign Minister, Dr. Workneh Gebeyehu, as well as other senior Ethiopian officials.

As it will be recalled, President

Isaias Afwerki had stated, in his speech on Martyrs Day last week (June 20th), that Eritrea “…will send, outside myopic considerations of public relations stunts and

advantages, a delegation to Addis Abba to gauge current developments directly and in depth as well as to chart out a plan for continuous future action”.

In related news, the Ministry of Labor and Human Welfare extended material to families of martyrs and disadvantaged citizens in various regions.

According to report, 366 carts were distributed to 150 families in Forto Sawa, 90 families in Hagaz, 50 families in Logo-Anseba, 40 families in Afabet, 20 families in Areza and 16 families in Halhal.

The representative of the Ministry of Labor and Human Welfare in Fort Sawa sub-zone, Mr. Okbamariam Tekle, and the Administrator of Log-Anseba sub-zone, Mr. Abraham Hagos, said that the support was made to enable the families become self-supportive and productive members of the society.

Mr. Solomon Mehari, Head of the ministry’s branch office in Hagaz sub-zone, also said that the support was made to 90 families including 39 females in the administrative areas of Hashishay, Adalet, Harinet, Golia, Badob, Fana, Ad-Fakai, Shengen, Awenjeli, Gilas, Enchinak and Idamir.

The beneficiary families expressed appreciation for the support extended.

Page 2: Vol. 25 No. 34 Wednesday, June 27, 2018 Pages 8, Price 2 ...50.7.16.234/hadas-eritrea/eritrea_profile_27062018.pdfMost of the people in rural ... NCDs due to change in life style are

Published Every Saturday & Wednesday

Acting EditorAmanuel [email protected]

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

E-mail:profile@ zena.gov.er

Advertisement: 12-50-13

Layout

Azmera BerhaneSara Alem

Published Every Saturday & Wednesday

Acting Editor Amanuel [email protected]

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

E-mail:[email protected]

Advertisement: 12-50-13

LayoutAzmera Berhane

Sara Alem

Published Every Saturday & Wednesday

Acting Editor Amanuel [email protected]

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

E-mail:[email protected]

Advertisement: 12-50-13

LayoutAzmera Berhane

Sara Alem

Published Every Wednesday & Saturday

Acting Editor Amanuel Mesfun

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

E-mail:[email protected]: 12-50-13

LayoutAzmera Berhane

Aida Johar

2 Vol 25 No 34 Eritrea Profile, Wednesday, June 27, 2018

Kesete Ghebrehiwet

The Ministry of Health has on 12 and 13 June conducted a two-day workshop on major Non Communicable Diseases (NCDs). The workshop aimed at providing orientation on the risk factors of NCDS and information on prevention and control mechanisms of various killer but neglected diseases. Governmental and non- Governmental institutions participated in the workshop which was facilitated by experienced medical doctors form Orotta National Referral Hospital. Despite their dire consequences, NCDs are the most ignored diseases. That is why the Ministry of Health organized a workshop that involves various institutions in a bid to establish a national multi-sectorial NCD committee that will engage in conducting sustainable awareness raising campaigns.

Unlike communicable diseases, NCDs are not contagious and most of the time people fail to give them due attention. Since NCDs are mostly hereditary or caused by lifestyle choices and, by environmental influences, a number of people consider them less severe than communicable disease and hold wrong notions

Non-Communicable Diseases: Deadly but Ignored

that NCDs are curable and these perceptions complicate the dangers of such diseases.

The treatment of NCDs is very expensive. Since such chronic diseases affect the human body for long-term their treatment is very difficult. In the past, they were considered diseases of developed countries, but they are increasingly becoming common in developing countries as people’s lifestyles change.

Cancer, diabetes, chronic respiratory diseases, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder (COPD) and asthma are the major NCDs at a global level. The prevalence of such diseases is increasing in Eritrea.

NCDs kill over 36 million people every year at a global level.

NCDs are caused by lifestyle choices, smoking, abuse of alcohol, lack in physical activity and consumption of food that contain large amount of salt, sugar and fats.

NCDs that are caused by lifestyle are less common in rural Eritrea. Most of the people in rural areas eat organic food and are less prone to diseases associated with the fast food culture

NCDs due to change in life style are more common in the urban and semi-urban areas of Eritrea. Change in life style has been the cause for an increase in the prevalence of heart diseases, cancer, diabetes and other chronic NCDs.

Eritrea has made remarkable progress in the prevention and control of communicable diseases. It is high time to mitigate NCDs through concerted efforts.

There are estimates that NCDs would bring a total of USD 47 Trillion global burden over the next two decades.

The workshop on NCDs discussed topics related to global and national epidemiological situation of NCDs, symptoms of the major NCDs, risk factors and aggravating factors, effects

of nutrition in worsening complications, short and long term consequences of NCDs, management and self-care of NCDs, treatment and patient compliance, and prevention and control of NCDs.

Dr. Mulugeta Haile, an MD. from Orotta National Referral Hospital, said that 40% of cancer cases are preventable. The main causes of cancer are alcoholic drinks and smoking and, therefore, are preventable through behavioral change.

“Cancer, one of the major NCDs in the world, along with cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and chronic respiratory diseases cause over 60% of the total global mortality every year,” Dr. Mulugeta said.

In Eritrea, NCDs among the age-group ranging from 30 to 70 account for 24% of all deaths. Death due to cardiovascular diseases constitutes 14%, death due to cancer is six percent, chronic respiratory disease and diabetes two percent each, and death due to other NCDs is 12%.

According to the presentations of all the medical doctors from Orotta Referal Hospital, the factors aggravating the condition of the major NCDs in Eritrea are late diagnosis, denial of the disease, use of herbal medicine and adherence to traditional practices, drug misuse, loss of

stress-coping mechanisms and an assumption that NCDs are curable.

Cardiovascular surgeries have been carried out inside the country in collaboration with expatiate doctors. As a result, a number of children and adults have survived.

The workshop focused on minimizing the risk factors of NCDs by promoting healthy lifestyle, providing health education to the public and encouraging women, to undergo self-breast examination, clinical breast examination, mammography and ultrasound examination.

Smoking and drinking alcoholic beverage are the major factors aggravating and complicating NCDs. Dr. Daniel Ghebretensaie, an MD. said that anti-smoking health education to the general public and specially focusing on adolescents and on occupational groups, highlighting the positive effects of not smoking and quitting smoking, and increasing the awareness of people for the rights of non-smokers are expected to have positive impact in the reduction of risk factors.

In his presentation on asthma and other chronic respiratory diseases, Dr. Daniel said that at times COPD has been misinterpreted as asthma. Although chemical hazards and

indoor pollutions are the major causes of asthma, 70-80% of COPD cases are rather caused by smoking, Dr. Daniel emphasized.

Dr. Naod Fekadu, an MD, said that in 2013 there was a total of 7.1 million diabetes cases in Africa, and this number is expected to rise to 20 million by 2020. Dr. Naod added that self- monitoring, proper utilization of Glucometer and proper reading and interpretation, are effective ways of reducing complications associated with diabetes.

Obesity, smoking, alcohol abuse are the major causes and aggravating factors of NCDs- cardiovascular disease, diabetes and hypertension and Dr. Samuel Kiflay says their prevention mechanisms mainly through healthy lifestyle.

The medical doctors who presented on topics related to cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and chronic respiratory diseases, said that frequent consumption of processed food, smoking and alcoholic drinks have been responsible for an increase in the prevalence of NCDs. As part of its efforts to mitigate the risks of such neglected diseases the Ministry of Health has established a National multi-sectorial Committee that is expected to play a significant role in the dissemination of information on the prevention and control mechanisms of NCDS.

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A column prepared in collaboration with the Eritrea’s culture and sports commission

Long-Distance Trade involving the R ed Sea Coast of Eritrea

during the 1st millennium BCE-1st millennium CE

continued on page 5

Abraham Zerai

One of the key aspects of the antiquity of Eritrea concerns the long-distance maritime trade which prospered particularly during the 1st millennium BCE to the 1st millennium CE. The political and cultural features of the interaction among the people along the coast of Eritrea and their maritime trade partners of the wider Red-Sea coast, Indian Ocean and Mediterranean region have been widely discussed. The connection of the Eritrean Red Sea coast of Eritrea to the wider circuit along the Red Sea World and the Indian Ocean has been discerned from the presence of trading goods in several archaeological sites along the aforementioned geographical scope. The existing knowledge among archaeologists involved in the Red Sea archaeology has been principally centered on the archaeological data from sites such as Berenike and Myos Hormos in Egypt, the Red Sea Coast of Eritrea, and the Eastern Mediterranean as well as archaeological sites in present day Yemen. Linking the available archaeological evidence from the Red Sea Coast of Eritrea to the wider circuits of the Indian Ocean and the Mediterranean region, therefore, helps us to appreciate the beginning and decline of long-distance maritime trade during the 1st millennium BCE to

the 1st millennium CE. Patterns in the production,

distribution and exchange of trading materials often help archaeologists to reconstruct wider circuits of long-distance trade among peoples of different civilizations in antiquity. The origin and distribution of materials, thus, becomes a reference to tackle these key aspects of the antiquity of the northern Horn of Africa. Today’s edition of the column, `´Cultural Heritage``, explores the accounts of long-distance maritime trade involving the Red Sea Coast of Eritrea during the 1st millennium BCE to the 1st millennium CE. The nature of the exchange patterns are highlighted in terms of the production and distribution of ceramics, precious stones, metal artifacts and glass objects.

As far as the antiquity of the northern Horn of Africa is concerned, the first evidence of the involvement of the Red Sea coast of Eritrea is seen in its importance as part of the exchange circuit with ancient Egypt, Nubia and Southern Arabia. Ancient Egyptian sources point to a lengthy period of trade exchange with the Land of Punt as early as the mid-3rd to mid-2nd millennium BCE. Recent evidence from molecular biology and isotopic analysis of preserved skeletal remains

of baboons presumed to have been exported to ancient Egypt from the Land of Punt strongly point to the location of Punt on the African side of the Red Sea coast, which includes much of present day Eritrea. Furthermore, the progressive inclusion of the Eritrean Red Sea coast into a wider area of commercial expansion in the Southern Red Sea stimulated the rise of complex societies in Eritrea in the early 1st millennium BCE. In the late 1st millennium BCE these complex societies along the Red Sea coast of Eritrea were included into the Roman circuit of the Red Sea world. The commercial relations further expanded into the early to mid-1st millennium CE allowing the civilizations along the coast to become important commercial partners of the Roman and Byzantine empires respectively.

Amphora assemblages represent one of the major evidence of the long-distance trade between the Eritrean Red Sea coast with the Roman and Byzantine empires in the 1st millennium BCE and 1st millennium CE. Amphora assemblages refer to the large two-handled pottery containers of the Greek and Roman epochs which were used for storing and transporting liquids(e.g. wine and olive oil) as well as food stuff (e.g. fish-sauce and date

products). Amphora assemblages were produced across much of the Roman Empire from the Iberian Peninsula (Spain and Portugal) to France and from the Italian peninsula to the Roman Province of North Africa and Eastern Mediterranean. Amphora assemblages are given different classifications by different archaeologists to represent their production centers across the Roman world as well as their chronologies.

The archaeological record from the ancient port city of Adulis in Eritrea shows evidence of Early Roman wine amphora(dating to the late 1st millennium BCE to early 1st millennium CE) as well as the so-called Ayla amphora from the Byzantine period(particularly from the 4th to 7th centuries CE). These varieties of amphora assemblages have expanded our knowledge of the probable origin and distribution patterns of amphora across the Red Sea world and the Indian Ocean. The Early Roman wine amphora found at the ancient port city of Adulis belong mainly to the Dressel 2-4 forms believed to have been imported from the Italian peninsula and the Roman province of Egypt(principally the ancient ports of Myos Hormos and Berenike). These amphora assemblages have been found at

Adulis with other forms of ceramic assemblages from North Africa, including the African sigillata forms allowing us to understand the connections with the wider Red Sea world. It should also be noted that pottery from Adulis and the interior of the northern Horn of Africa have been found at the ancient Egyptian ports of Myos Hormos and Berenike. The Dressel 2-4 amphora were particularly destined for the Red Sea Coast of East Africa, Southern Arabia and the Indian sub-continent to transport wine and have been found in these regions in large assemblages. Similarly, the Ayla amphora which represents production from the 4th -7th centuries CE have been widely documented in the archaeological record of the Eritrean Red Sea coast. The Ayla amphorae are presumed to have been produced at the ancient port of Ayla (Aqaba) in present day Jordan. These amphorae assemblages which are presumed to have Eastern Mediterranean origin were also found in Myos Hormos and Berenike in Egypt, Adulis, Assarca and Matara in Eritrea, Axum in Ethiopia as well as Zafar in Yemen. The Ayla amphorae provide a glimpse of the long-distance trade across

3 Vo 25 . No 34 Eritrea Profile, Wednesday, June 27, 2018

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4 Vol 25 . No 34 Eritrea Profile, Wednesday, June 27, 2018

Natnael Yebio W.

In this day and age a lot of people believe that in order to achieve a successful lifestyle one must have a college degree. A degree is good, but it shouldn’t imply one is superior in that field which they earned their degree in. After all, many who have a degree in one field, work in a completely different field. A degree conveys commitment and credibility. However, work experience is just as important if not more.

“It was the fifth grade,” my friend starts. “Our Math teacher gave us a homework dealing with the flight of an airplane and we had to compute its speed.”

“Yonas (not his real name) the top student in the class got the answers first. According to his computation the plane was cruising at ten kilometers per hour.”

Yonas was a model student. Neat, obedient, hardworking and an unscrupulous achiever. He was also the green-eyed boy of the math teacher. “How can a plane move at a speed of only 10km/hr and still remain airborne?” he asked him. “That is the answer,” he sighed, showing him his calculations.

Some people may be good students, standing top in their class, but if you see closely, you find them lacking in common sense and sound judgment.

Experiences Vs EducationYonas left high school with

flying colors, joined the university and is now in the USA, living happily with his wife and children and with his assumption that planes remain airborne at a snail’s speed if a certain calculation says so.

Right after I had finished my college studies, a friend of mine- quite a bit older than me, advised me on how I should always work using the knowledge I had acquired in my four-year stay in college and the common sense I had gathered from everyday life experiences. The above story was his way of making understand what he wanted to say.

What my friend told me triggered a similar story I once heard. When I was a child, our teacher used to tell us the story of a boy from an Eritrean village who left for Italy for higher education, probably high school. After a year’s stay in Milano he sent a letter to his father: “Dear dad, how interesting for me to discover after all this time that our village’s moon looks exactly like the moon in Milano…..” His father simply sighed with despair and implored him, in a letter, to come back home as soon as possible.

Our teacher told us the story suggesting that common sense and the acquisition of general knowledge through reading is most of the time better than just

formal education.

“Kab mihro aemro” is a Tigrigna adage which means that it is better to have an insight or vision than a good formal education which finally makes you utter stupid things.

I have seen very resourceful Eritrean businessmen who could neither read nor write. They have the flair for fast money making and employ people with BA and MA. In fact, many people that changed this world were either not educated or stopped their studies early in their lives.

Charlemagne, the holy Roman emperor could neither read nor write, and the same can be said about many prominent people such as Bill Gates, founder of Microsoft, as well as his competitor, the late Steve Jobs, founder of Apple. Both never completed their college education. These men are now two of the most influential persons in the world.

If one is educated, let him or her use the knowledge for the betterment of this world. For learning that begins with words and ends with words is a waste of time and a disservice to humankind.

The problem with scholarship and academics is that it intends to keep its worshippers under its grips. Sometimes, learning simply makes you build walls around yourself and you become its prisoner. Do you know that

sometimes knowledge becomes a curtain that obstructs your view of the reality of things? The Pharisees, the learned among the Jews, were unable to see the truth when it came to them personified.

One day there was a scientist who wanted to find out if mice whose tails are cut for generations can reproduce mice without tails or maimed tails. He was trying to prove a point in the theory of evolution. So he went to his lab and began the project of cutting off the tails of his poor white mice and went on for ten years with his alarming activity probably hoping to win a Noble Prize in Biology.

A friend who heard about this strange experiment went over to him and had to tell him the painful truth. “Look,” he said to his learned friend, “the Jews had their foreskin cut (Circumcision) for over six thousand years. Now have you ever seen a Jew born circumcised, with his foreskin gone?”

The scientist turned pale. His academic knowledge stood as a curtain between him and reality. How many mice suffered because he refused to break out of his grooves of academics. How many more mice were going to suffer if he stopped listening to common sense.

It is said that in traditional Eritrean society, people had more trust in wise than educated men. The kings asked for educated people or experts only when

they felt the need for weapons or infrastructure that helped them expand their territory through invasion and plunder. For matters that dealt with politics and administration, they preferred wise and experienced people and left the church to deal with the learned and the scholarly.

Nature has in many instances defied learning and humbled those who pride themselves on their scientific achievements.

According to the theory of aerodynamics, say scientists, the bumble bee is not supposed to fly, but it flies just the same. How? Well, just revise your theories, for you can never prevent the bumble bee from flying.

In the decades after the independence of African countries, many representing NGO’s or welfare organizations had sent sewing machines as donations to people who walk half naked because of heat, or even sent irrigation experts to places where the rain never stops.

Academic excellence is not to blame. The learned is more useful than one who is not. But, it is only when learning is used in the service of humankind that it becomes a useful tool. A person with a degree in this or in that field has first to come out from its academic cocoon and try to gain insight and vision. Real knowledge abhors dogmas and rigid forms. Real knowledge is a window not a curtain.

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5Eritrea Profile, Wednesday, June 27, 2018 Vol 25 . No 34

Long-Distance Trade involving the . .

continued from page 3

local news

World Blood Donor Day 2018 has been observed nationwide under the theme ‘Blood Connects us All’.

In connection to the Day, a mass rally was organized by the Association of the Voluntary Blood Donors with the objective of enhancing the awareness of the society and encouraging voluntary donors for better contribution in the streets of Asmara, starting from around the Central Region Administration building to the premises of the National Blood Transfusion Center.

The Director General of Health Services in the Ministry of Health, Mr. Berhane Gebretinsae, stated that the government

WoRld blood donoR day 2018 obseRved nationWideof Eritrea has been working to ensure the provision of quality health services and the supply of blood and that the success registered so far is encouraging.

WHO representative in Eritrea, Mr. Semere Gebregergis, on his part stated that the level of blood donation has increased from 3.9 million to 4.5 million units of blood from 2013-2016 and that death occurrences from accidents has increased significantly.

Mr. Samsom Gebreslassie, Chairman of the National Voluntary Blood Donors Association, also said that blood donation is an act of cooperation and called on the society to enhance blood donation to

save lives. Voluntary blood donation was conducted during the event.

Meanwhile, in connection with the World Donors Day, the Voluntary Blood Donors Association in Northern Red Sea region conducted a one-month training of trainers with a view to augmenting voluntary blood donation.

At the event, Head of the regional Association, Mr. Haile Tewoldeberhan, noted that ensuring blood supply saves lives and that the National Blood Transfusion Center and the National Voluntary Blood Donors Association are working towards that end.

The Cameraman . . .continued from page 8

the wider circuit of the Red Sea, Eastern Mediterranean and the Indian Ocean during the Byzantine periods. The ancient shipwreck at Assarca in the Dahlak Islands revealed large assemblages of a variety of the Ayla amphorae and provide the sea-faring trade involving the Red Sea coast and the Mediterranean world. Apart from the apparent connections with the Roman and Byzantine worlds, it should also be mentioned that the Red Sea Coast of Eritrea had trading contacts with the Persian Gulf and the Indian sub-continent as understood from pottery uncovered along the coast.

On similar accounts, the long-distance trade involving the coast of Eritrea with the

wider Mediterranean has been suggested from the remains of precious stones found at the ancient port-city of Adulis. Decorated marble and travertine fragments uncovered from the port-city presumably have been linked perhaps to the sources in the Aegean as well as Egypt which indicate Byzantine connections. This rudimentary analysis, it should be said, however, need to be supported by geological, mineralogical and chemical studies to understand the full extent of the distribution patterns involving these materials. Furthermore, metal artifacts and glass objects found along the coast need similar approaches to unveil the scale of long-distance trade connecting the Eritrean coast to the wider Red Sea, Indian Ocean and Mediterranean worlds by the 1st millennium BCE to the 1st millennium CE.

Mr. Yonas Abraham, agriculture expert in Anseba region, disclosed that about 60 thousand hectares of land is being cultivated in the region through customary way of farming.

Mr. Yonas reiterated that the sustainable water and soil conservation activities, intervention of agricultural experts, as well as increased awareness of the farmers on the significance of crop rotation coupled with the prevention of pests and crop diseases have enabled farmers to get ready for plowing their lands on time.

Stating that the Ministry of Agriculture branch in Anseba region has distributed select seeds to the farmers, Mr. Yonas called on the farmers to give priority to use the select seeds.

He called on the farmers to frequently inspect their farmlands and report to experts during prevalence of pests or crop diseases.

anseba Region: aRound 60 thousand hectaRe Ready foR cultivation

times during the war for independence. We have almost one million pictures that documented the armed struggle.

Keeping the photos after independence

I am currently the head of the Photography division in the Ministry of Information. We have more than 50 years old analog films. We are now digitalizing the photos to keep them in the data base system. We believe that, those pictures tell our history, and they should be handled and stored carefully for posterity. It’s because they were carefully kept that we have them today.

You have many pictures which you have won awards for and other popular photos as well…

I have won first prize three times among other awards. A photographer shouldn’t put his/her camera in a bag while travelling. A cameraperson should carry the camera near his hand so as to take any photos along the way. That is what I do. I have many photos that are well recognized. I have one of a young shepherd with one shoe holding a stick. Another famous picture is of a mother with her twins, carrying one on her back and breastfeeding the other while holding her other two kids. That photo describes the harsh drought the people suffered from in the 180s. The woman was migrating with her children, and you can see that she was in distress.

Furthermore, I have my photos in the national currency Nakfa; in 5nkf the kunama

man, 10nkf the Tigre and Tigrigna women, 20nkf Nara women and in 50nkf the Assab port at the back.

Before we say our good byes

Every governmental institution and ministry, every person who is interested in photography should support it. Competitions should be held in the name of any kind of event. That is how we can upgrade photography. Photography is a base, education and history. We all should value the importance of it and care for it.

1987, a photo of a young shepherd in Shilalo

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6 Vol 25 . No 34 Eritrea Profile, Wednesday, June 27, 2018

VacancY annoUnceMenT

Bisha Mining Share Company PLC is looking applicants for the following posi-tion:-

1. Position: Human Resources Officer (Expat Services)

Department: Employee Services – Human Resources

Number Required: (01) Type of contract: Indefinite periodMajor Duties and responsibilities:-Recruitment

• Ensurethattherecruitmentofexpatsisinlinewiththecurrentpolicyand procedure.

• Compileallapplicationsreceivedtolinemanager.• Follow-uponshortlistedcandidatesandarrangeforinterviews.• Preparerecruitmentmatrixofcandidatesinterviewed.• Ensurethatreferencecheckisdoneforsuccessfulcandidate.• Informsuccessfulcandidateandwritealetterofintent.• Ensurethatpre-checkproceduresarefollowed.• Providethesuccessfulcandidatewithacontractofemployment.• Requestabusiness/employmentvisaforemployeesandcontractors.

• Flightbookingsandhotelreservationsfornewemployees.• Preparesiteentryandinductionbookingandfollowupuntilcompletion.• Toprocessthesiteentry,inductionbooking,flights,visasforHRvisi-tors contractors.• Followupandreviewofexpatperformanceevaluationsforcompletion.• Communicatewithpotentialexpatcandidates/newemployeesoverphone/email.

Reports and Administration related duties• Updateexpatrecruitmenttrackeronadailybasis.• SubmissionofdailyactivitiestotheHRSupervisor,HRSuperintendent,HR Manager expat related activities• CapturenewexpatsinMedicalInsurancedatabase.• RemoveterminatedexpatsfromtheMedicalInsurancedatabase.• MonthlyreconciliationofExpatandMedicalInsuranceemployeelist.• ProvideinputonexpatdocumentationforprocessingtoPayroll.• Reviewtheleaverequestinlinewiththeroster.• Follow-upandreviewactingappointmentsinlinewithpolicyandpro-cedure.• AttendadailyHRmeetingandprovidefeedbackonareaofresponsibil-ity.

Contracts of Expatriate Employees• Informdepartments4monthsinadvanceonexpatcontractorpermitexpiring.• PrepareacontractrenewalrequestandsubmittorelevantdepartmentHOD for review and approval.• Arrangereviewcommitteemeetingstoreviewrenewalrequests3months prior to expiry date.• Draftcontractrenewalsandupdatecontractsbasedonapprovalsandoutcomes of review committee meetings.Terminations• Facilitateandprocessexpatterminations• Ensurethatexitinterview,terminationform,siteclearanceissignedoffby line manager• Generateaterminationletterandissuetoemployee

Technical Skills Behavioural Skills

Computer Literacy (MS Office – Intermediate)

Communication (English and Local language)

Proficient in Expat Medical Insurance System Assertiveness

Knowledge of Policies, Procedures and Processes

Ability to meet deadlines

Expat legislation knowledge and procedures Accuracy

Addressing Expat HR issues/concerns Confidentiality

Knowledge of current legislation local and international

Ability to work under pressure

Attention to detail Interpersonal Relations skill

Administrative skill Integrity

Report writing skills

Business Communication skills

2. Position: Kitchen Assistant Store KeeperDepartment: Employee Services – Village and ServicesNumber required: (01)Type of contract: Indefinite period

MAIN FUNCTIONS

Issuing of Stock / Stock ControlEnsure quantities of stock issued correspond with •requisition.Issuing of stock or kitchen, pubs and shop areas.•Capture all issued and received goods/items onto •in-house system.Responsible to receive goods and ensure that the •quality and quantiles are right.Ensure that documentation for stock received •as well as stock issued is captured and that all documentation is signed off as per the company policy, procedure and processes.

Observe stock levels and report these to the Store •Keeper.

Ensure that store area and freezer containers are •tidy and clean as per operating procedures.

• InformpayrollofterminationinadvanceUnique Requirements / Other Information

• Carryoutanyotherdutiesorinstructionsasrequestedbytheincumbent’ssupervisor or manager.

Qualifications:

• Diploma/DegreeinHumanResourcesorrelatedfields

• Diploma/DegreeinBusinessManagement

Knowledge and Experience:

• 3–5YearsHumanResourcesgeneralistexperience

• ExcellentproficiencyinEnglish-speak,readandwrite

• Previousexperienceworkingwithexpatriateswillbeanadvantage

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7 Vol 25 No 34Eritrea Profile, Wednesday, June 27, 2018

Notice is hereby given to the public that CIS (Catering International & Services) S.A. French nationality company based in Marseilles, France has been officially registered as CIS Branch in Eritrea.

The office of the 1. CIS Branch in Eritrea is in Asmara, Eritrea;

The declared capital of the 2. CIS S.A. in France is Euro one million six hundred eight thousand two hundred eight (Euro 1,608,208.00).

The business objectives of the 3. CIS Branch in Eritrea are : -

Engineering, procurement, construction of remote site accommodation camps and total facilities management including operating incinerators, laundry, food catering, accommodation cabins … etc.;Engineering, procurement, construction and management of sewage treatment plants & potable water treatment plants, including operation and management of laboratory for water quality testing;Develop a training center for local staff for different disciplines such as QHSE, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, carpentry, Management system software, water treatment plant, incineration ... etc.; Management & maintenance of heavy duty machinery, power generators, including boat engines & HV/LV vehicles; Operate & maintain power plants, including of management of electrical distribution;Operate & maintain of all type of air conditioning system and HVAC, including central air treatment as well as freezers & chillers containers;Engineering, procurement, installation, management and training for maintenance management system for different infrastructure such as remote site base, hotels, hospitals, buildings, …etc.; Operation & maintenance of all type of maintenance for hotels, hospitals, factories, building, accommodation camp, resort…etc.;International procurement & supply of food and beverages, including maintenance spare parts for buildings, remote site plants;Full management of waste, including segregation and recycling as well as operation & maintenance of incinerators;Operation & maintenance of irrigation system;

Mr. Axel Petit Dufrenoy 4. who is Belgian citizen has been appointed as General Manager of the CIS Branch in Eritrea with full mandate to run the CIS Branch in Eritrea for unlimited time.

5. The 6. CIS Branch in Eritrea has been registered as the CIS Branch in Eritrea for an unlimited period of time or until being replaced by another legal form, including under form of a Company.

CIS (Catering International & Services)

noTIceSafetyKnowledge of Health and Safety standards to be •applied in working area.

Attend safety talks each day to create awareness on •safety.

Report a hazard or potential hazard to Store •Keeper.Ensure that adequate shelves are available to •provide proper storage in accordance to safety standards.

Qualifications:

Grade 12

Certificate in Storekeeping will be an added advantage

Knowledge and Experience:

3 Years’ experience in Storekeeping environment

Experience in office Administration environment

Driver’s License Light vehicle

Technical Skills Behavioural Skills

Computer Literacy (MS Office – Intermediate, In-house system)

Interpersonal skills

Mathematical Ability Team playerCommunication (Local language and English)

Leadership (added advantage)

General Information and other requirements:

Place of Work: Bisha site.•

Salary: As per Company salary scale.•

Additional requirement for Nationals: Having fulfilled his/her National Service obligation and provide evidence of release paper from Ministry of Defense.

Present clearance paper from current/last employer •

Testimonial documents to be attached (CV, work experience •credentials, a copy of your National Identity Card etc.).

Only shortlisted applicants will be considered as potential •candidates for an interview.

Application documents will not be returned back to sender•

All applications should be sent through the post office•

Deadline for application: 10 days from the day of publication in •the Newspaper

Address: Please mail your applications to;

Bisha Mining Share Company, P. O. Box 4276 Asmara, Eritrea Note to Non- Eritrean applicants: Please send a copy of your application to

Aliens Employment Permit Affairs, P. O. Box 7940 Asmara, Eritrea.

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8 Vol 25 . No 34 Eritrea Profile, Wednesday, June 27, 2018

The Cameraman at the Theater of WarAsmait Futsumbrhan

If anyone knows the passion and emotions of the Eritrean freedom fighters, it is a sure thing that one would rather want to play rough in the arenas of war with guns and tanks instead of taking pictures. One would rather help his friend after being severely injured in action instead of taking the photo. I am sure he would rather pull the trigger to kill the enemy who had just killed his brother instead of pushing the capture key on his camera. Despite all the emotions piled up inside their hearts, the Eritrean camera men of the armed struggle did their absolute best to capture every moment of all the activities; the dreadful war times, the relaxing and funny moments during their rest, the unbearable injuries of the fighters and the loved ones that gave up their lives to bring peace and joy to their people. Today, Q&A invites Taezaz Abraha, one of the cameramen of the armed struggle. Currently working as the head of the Photography Branch at the Ministry of Information, he is here to chat about the role of the camera at the fields.

Thank you for your time. Would you please introduce yourself to our readers?

I was born and raised in Asmara, Akria. Like most of the youth during my time, I joined the armed struggle in 77, when I was 17 years old. After getting military training, like everyone else, I was assigned to battalion 60, brigade 31. After participating in many wars with my division, I had a leg injury during the 7th offensive at MaiKalashin.

After my injury, since my injury wasn’t that much challenging, and I didn’t accept the fact that I wasn’t doing anything I was assigned to the information branch. After taking some courses, I was then assigned to work at the exhibition and repairing section in photography.

Photography in the fields….the challenges and benefits?

It was hard for me to work at the repairing branch since I just started to know about the camera.

That is why I worked so hard to know the instrument. Back then, all the camerapersons didn’t have a d e q u a t e knowledge of the cameras. All we had was each other and that is why we fixed and talked about the cameras together. We would note anything that happened to the camera, why and how it was damaged and then try to fix it.

In doing so,

I became so much interested in photography. The cameramen did their best in documenting every activity that was happening during the armed struggle. We understood the value of documenting our history for future generations. That is why we never even thought about ourselves during the heated wars. Every division had its own cameraperson. That way the armed struggle would tell its story through the photos’ of wars, meetings, and all kinds of activities the fighters did to get through the struggle.

There even were competitions among the photographers. We had various magazines published at the field, and in one of the magazines, Sagm, the best photo would be published on the back cover of the magazine. Every cameraperson would send their pictures from all over. I had my five pictures published. The magazines included updates on the armed struggle and motivational articles, and it was distributed to all the divisions and sent to foreign countries.

The challenge was that we were using analog cameras, which made our work difficult. We didn’t have enough films to take sufficient number of pictures. We only got 36 shots in a film, which meant, we had to be very wise in using the shots. There was time when we had to be stingy with our shots and we would leave an incident to capture another incident which we thought was worth the shot. We had to come up with many solutions to save shots. For instance, for the passport-size photos we used to take a photo

of two people with a single shot. That way we used 36 shots for 72 people.

Also, we didn’t get to see the photos we took instantly, which meant we had to wait almost a week to find out how the photos came out. There were even times when the films didn’t make it to the printing branch. It is when it got to the printing branch that you knew if the lighting was good or your autofocus wasn’t.

The undeniable benefit was we kept our history alive and lively through the cameras.

Carrying only a camera in the battlefields….how was that?

This is not an easy question,

Asmait. The army had the guns, tanks, and the bombs to defend themselves and kill the enemy. All the photographers had was the camera. On top of that, the cameras we used weren’t advanced. The cameramen had to get close to the enemy lines in order to take a

good picture. Besides all of that, the only reason we were there was to bring freedom at any cost. If it was up to me, I would rather run at the battlegrounds with my gun. It was hard to take photos of friends being injured or killed in action. However, I was there to document the history of my heroes and heroines. I was there to document the story of what we did to bring peace. I was part of many battles and I captured many of them. One of the most dreadful wars I documented and participated in was the north eastern of Sahl. I still remember it as if it was yesterday. We controlled every corner of Awget, and the war was almost over when an airplane came and dropped a cluster bomb on us. Almost the whole team was martyred and was buried in one hole. I was there to document the incident, and it was one of the most horrible moments. This is just a single incident; there are many photos which reflect the horrible

1987, migrating mother with her children, Deida 1984, North Eastern of Sahl , at the battlefields

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